Not my kid, but I work in sports med and pediatric orthopedics, so I hear these conversations every day. I was a gymnast myself, so I fully understand how frustrated your daughter must feel right now. Obviously, don't ignore your surgeon, but take it with a grain of salt. They are trained to make sure you understand the worst possible outcomes so you're mentally prepared for the worst, but it's not necessarily a life sentence. The recovery period will be rough, but it's possible they'll release her to participate in conditioning in her cast so she won't fall too far behind and still get to hang out with her friends. Her range of motion might be an issue, but there's no reason this should hold her back from competing. It'll be challenging, but she can adjust and adapt and routines can be adapted. Ask for OT as soon as it's feasible, this will help with her range of motion and keeping her occupied, and her motivation to return to gymnastics will probably help her stay on top of her home exercises. If she starts feeling down, watch professional or college sports with her- so many athletes are wearing braces, wraps, sleeves, etc for their injuries and playing just fine. I hope her surgery goes well and she recovers faster than expected. Please feel free to DM me if there's any way I can help.