Erin Geerlof

I first came to HSS in 2009 when I was a freshman in high school to see Dr. Bryan Kelly for hip pain I had been experiencing since 2006. Nobody could figure out what was wrong with me. Dr. Kelly figured out that my femurs were rotated too much, causing labral tears and impingement. He also noticed that my joints were very loose and suggested that I might have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, a connective tissue disorder. Dr. Kelly, along with Dr. Ernest Sink, performed six hip surgeries on my hips to fix the rotation and additional complications that arose. I ended up being diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (Classic and Hypermobile types) in 2011. My life has completely changed since this diagnosis and it explains why my body has been experiencing so many issues since I was a toddler. Dr. Kelly really saved me by suggesting that I had EDS. Because of my hip pain, I had to quit athletics. I was a softball pitcher, basketball guard, and a swimmer. I still cannot go back to those competitive sports, but I am able to participate in fun recreational activities that I love, such as waterskiing, snow skiing, hiking, belaying, and rock climbing. I am so thankful for Dr. Sink and Dr. Kelly and all of the staff at HSS. The nurses all remember me because of how much time I spent at HSS, and I really owe everything to them. Thanks to these surgeries, I am finally transferring out of community college as an honors student and pursuing my career living at a four year university. I cannot be more thankful.