I first injured my knee in a skiing accident when I was 18. Back then, there wasn’t much they could do, so I just lived with it. It didn’t start bothering me until I was in my 40s or 50s. Then the pain became unbearable—like a hot knife going into my knee. Cortisone shots worked for a while, but eventually, they barely helped at all.
For years, I heard I was "too young" for a knee replacement, that I'd outlive it. But when I got a call from London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) for my intake interview, they said, “that’s such outdated thinking.” They told me knee replacements now last more like 25 to 30 years and they prefer operating on someone younger who’s going to do what’s necessary to recover.
I met with Dr. Steven MacDonald, LHSC Orthopaedic Surgeon, and despite feeling relieved things were moving along, I was still anxious. This was a major, invasive surgery. They were cutting out my knee and replacing it with new parts. I had never had anything like this done before. But Anne Jackson, administrative support to Dr. MacDonald, assured me it would be a good experience. Her words helped put me at ease—I can’t say enough about how much her kindness and support meant to me.
Surgery day, December 9, 2024, started at 6 a.m. The staff were amazing. Everyone introduced themselves, told me exactly what they were doing, and asked if I had questions. They obviously were all seasoned professionals because the process was so smooth.
A couple of things really stood out to me that day. I’m hard of hearing, and I was worried about being able to communicate once they took my hearing aids out. But the staff handled it so well. They let me keep them in for most of the time. When they did have to remove them, they made sure to tell me, so I wasn’t caught off guard. It made such a difference knowing they were thinking about that.
The other surprise? I got to keep my phone with me right up until surgery. A small thing, but it helped pass the time and kept me connected to loved ones.
While recovering, the nurses took great care of me, especially Taylor. When her shift ended, she introduced me to the next nurse and said, “I don’t know when you’re heading home, but I’m gonna check in with my team tomorrow to make sure the rest of your stay went well.” It was clear she genuinely cared.
Recovery has been hard work, but I knew from day one I had to stay on top of my physiotherapy or I wouldn’t get my full range of motion back. My summer car is a Miata and I need this leg to work the clutch. So, every time I feel like skipping an exercise, I remind myself—I want to be back in that car this summer.
Outside of my love for cars, I have two kids and I’m involved in my community. I sing in my church choir and serve on multiple committees. My choir offered to donate in my name after my surgery. I asked them to direct it to LHSC’s orthopaedics program because I was so grateful for the care they provided. It was a modest gift, but Anne’s reaction showed me how much every contribution is truly appreciated.
From my first phone call to my most recent follow-up with Dr. MacDonald, LHSC made it a positive experience. If you’re in pain and thinking about putting it off, my advice? Don’t wait. You’re in good hands.