Future BYU basketball player Nick Emery is headed back to Germany to finish his mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Emery took to Twitter to make the announcement:
Emery returned to Utah from Germany in August due to a pre-existing condition called thoractic outlet syndrome (TOC). TOC occurs when something, often a rib, places pressure on nerves and blood vessels between the neck and armpit that causes pain. Emery's mission president and LDS area medical doctors determined that Emery's TOC needed urgent attention and issued the medical release.
Emery underwent surgery on Aug. 18 to treat his TOC. Emery's brother and former BYU basketball player Jackson Emery released a photo of Emery after his surgery on his Instagram account and reported that doctors "removed part of his rib bone and scar tissue around his lungs." Jackson Emery also wrote that, "Already he can feel the warmth in his arms, and his fingers are no longer numb."
Apparently, Nick Emery has recovered enough to return to the rigors of full-time missionary service overseas.
What effect this surgery will have on Emery's basketball game will wait for another day. For now, Emery is apparently excited to return to his missionary service in Germany.
Lafe Peavler is a staff sports writer for the Deseret News. Follow him on Twitter @LafePeavler.