Michael Parsons

<p class="p1">In early April 2013 I signed up for the Dopey Challenge at Walt Disney World (to be held in January 2014) to raise awareness and money for JDRF (my son has Type 1 Diabetes).<span class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>At this time I did not know I needed hip surgery, although I had intermittent pain with my right hip and my wife was pestering my to go see a hip doctor.<span class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>To make a long story short I saw Dr. Kelly in June and he recommended having surgery sooner rather than later.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Dopey Challenge cancelled as surgery was scheduled for late August 2013.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I followed the recovery and physical therapy protocol.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I went to Performance Physical Therapy (an HSS certified center).<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>By the end of the year I was walking and slowly progressed to jogging on the treadmill shortly thereafter.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Fast forward to May 2014, I was able to sign up for the Dopey Challenge (January 2015) through JDRF and get a slot for the 2015 WDW marathon weekend.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The Dopey Challenge is a total of 48.6 miles over four days.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The challenge consists of a 5k on Thursday, a 10k on Friday, a half marathon on Saturday and a full marathon on Sunday.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Training for the challenge began June 1 and consisted of 3 - 5 days of running per week.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I completed the challenge without any hip pain.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> T</span>his would not have been possible without the skilled and talented doctors and physical therapists that guided me through my surgery and post surgical recovery.</p>