Joanne Dagostino

My knee issues started due to an injury when I was 16 which were not properly diagnosed or treated. By the time I was 22 I had developed RSD, was constantly in pain and was already being told that my knee needed to be replaced. I initially treated with Dr. O'Brien at HSS who got me back on track and over the years, with Dr. Fealy taking over along the way, bought me quality time until my total knee replacement in 2012. I wish I could say that over all those years I was active and pain free, but I wasn't. I wish I could say that the TKR immediately changed my life (it was a really rough first year) and YET, in 2014 I decided to try running. I know, not really recommended, but after years of being cautious, I figured I didn't have much to lose. Since then I have finished many 5K's, a 10K, 2 15K's and in October, a half marathon. I will never set land speed records, but the fact that I could do it, and finish....upright, pain free and on my power is truly a miracle. I thank God for the gift of healing every day, and there is no doubt that HSS and ONLY HSS could have been part of it!!