Debra Ruetsch

Everyone has something in life that they truly love to do. My greatest joy is walking hand in hand with a little girl named Ashley to a playground near her home in Maryland. There together we create make-believe adventures involving an imaginary giant submarine, lost sailors and scary sea creatures. The constant pain of arthritis robbed me of those adventures last year. Ashley asked me why I was using crutches and why was I crawling up steps and unable to play like before. Here's the thing....I knew could captain our imaginary submarine on crutches, but I also wanted a future where I could walk and climb stadium bleachers without pain to watch my first mate and granddaughter graduate from high school and college. I guess I wanted it all. So I went to New York City to see the special folks at Hospital for Special Surgery where I met an extraordinary and gifted surgeon: Dr. Friedrich Boettner. Dr. Boettner did more than give me two beautiful new knees. He got me back in the Game of Life.

Thank you Dr. Boettner, Michelle Sabsels Lyons PA and all of the wonderful people I met at HSS!

You have changed my life forever!

Debra Ruetsch