Surgery + Your Biggest Life Hurdles

Ugh! The word makes my shoulders tense. After starting this running journal, my knees were hurting, again. I couldn't figure it out. It had been almost six years of this chronic knee pain without any concrete answers, except for "degeneration". Which leaves room for endless amounts of physical therapy and little visions of a finish line. Rheumatory arthritis had even come into question.

I scheduled my second MRI, made an appointment to see a new doctor at Mass General, and bam, I found myself sitting on the ever-so-comforting doctor's table going over the MRI sheets. Mom even made the trip up.
Dr. Bert Zarins instantly pointed and said "Yes so here...", I knew what that meant and tears rushed down my face. With a tear on the patella tendon, it was clear. It was big. It needed, surgery.

Here I am now though, sitting at my desk looking out at a beautiful spring day in Boston. In retrospect, the past six weeks have been one of the hardest processes I've had to endure.  However, everyday gets better. Just two days ago I hopped on the bike and slowly did revolutions. Now, I'm just incredibly excited just to see what I can do tomorrow.

For those of you who are thinking about surgery or perhaps about to face it, I have a couple of tips. I also think that these can be applied to any emotional trial you are facing in life. I truly hope they help!


1. Patience- If it's never been a friend of yours, it will now become your only foundation. From patience stems anything well worth the time.  Keep calm and confident on a day-to-day basis. The first few weeks, gather up your favorite books or DVDs and soak in the stay-cation, take up a new hobby (ie. painting,  I attempted). When those moments of doubt sink into your mind think of the word, anticipation for a better tomorrow keeps the pulse moving.

2. Faith - Whatever you believe in, God, Jesus, the universe, Buddha, whatever principles you have, direct them towards you. You now more than ever must believe in yourself. I've never liked Lance Armstrong but I once heard him say, "God is me". And, he had a point. When you are undergoing the biggest trials in your life, you only have you to knock you over, and you to bring yourself up. Faith is one of the biggest players in progress.

3. Discipline- Once you start physical therapy, you will undergo a very different association with pain. Pain is your friend. (Bad pain, and you know what that feels like, isn't). You are truly welcoming a new part of the body, a new member. Be kind to it as it finds its place and strength once again, but also know it needs to be tested. You are training a new tool to be good at its job. The first few weeks of physical therapy will be the hardest, but the rewards are twofold. Keep at the work your physical therapist gives you every couple of hours and you will find yourself passing through recovery with ease.

4. Friends and Family- They will be your number one support. Reach out to them, tell them what you need, don't be afraid to be weak. The love of others is crucial to healing and although you may feel vulnerable, you'll be stronger in the end for what they can offer. Every week, I walk with my former teammate from Boston College, she even holds my hand as I try to perfect the simple "heel, toe".  And upon leaving the surgical room, I received this thoughtful card "signed" by the world's best athletes who have all received surgery and returned back to their sport better than previously. Humor is always  the best healing prescription....

Picabo Street (skier), Dane Reynolds (surfer), Danny Way (skateboarder), Tom Brady (football), Amare Studdemier, Kevin Garnett (basketball) , Ronaldo (soccer)

Some personal favorites:

"After my surgery I jumped the Great Wall of China on a skateboard. You do the math"- Danny Way

"Getting my hair this perfect is more challenging than a solid recovery" - Ronaldo

And simply put, "Recovery!!!!"- KG.