It simply thanked Lily for giving eleven families the chance to keep living ordinary lives. That affected Lily more than the awards that followed. Westbridge High renamed its annual courage award after her.

The city presented her with a civilian lifesaving medal. A university offered her a future scholarship, though Lily had not decided where she wanted to study.

She accepted the medal but refused a national television tour. “I don’t want to be famous for almost dying,” she told Daniel. “I want to get better.”

Recovery was slow. Some mornings Lily woke with headaches so severe that speaking became difficult. She grew frustrated when her left hand trembled.

In April, a neurosurgeon named Dr. Anand sat with them in a room with a light box and explained, kindly and at length, that competitive basketball was over.

Not for the season. Permanently. No contact, no full-court play, nothing that risked a blow to the head or a hard fall.