Arrival Belgium December 7th 2008
It all began when I was a young child. I was born with two hips. In my adult life
I was diagnosed with Osteoarthritis (OA) in spring 2005 after climbing the Grand Canyon with my son Toby.
Doctors told me eventually I would need a Total Hip Replacement. At first I was in denial and put it on the back burner for a few years. When the pain became too pronounced I started my research in earnest and learned that there was a new procedure called Hip Resurfacing that would allow me to maintain a greater range of motion with fewer restrictions. I wanted one of the top 5 surgeons in the world to perform this difficult surgery and I chose Dr Koen De Smet in Gent, Belgium. Not only has he been performing HRs for over 11 years, I loved
the fact that his rehabilitation was intensive and that you were given water therapy starting the second day post op.
It didn’t hurt that I could get great belgian waffles and chocolates either. I figured I could do a little traveling after rehab as well. Why not see Paris, Madrid, Barcelona and Rome too. You live once right?
My family thought I was “on crack” for wanting to leave the familiar
surroundings of Cleveland, Ohio. One friend mentioned that he would rather
“eat broken glass” before he would get surgery abroad. But the doctor said with a little care I could do it all, so I headed off alone to Belgium. It was to be the last time I could go through an airport scanner without setting it off.
I arrived at The Villa Cento Passi - ANCA Clinic two days before surgery. The Villa is owned and operated by Dr. De Smet’s family and is similar to a bed and breakfast with a medical clinic and therapy facilities attached. Everything seemed great except for the dismal music that played in the elevator 24/7. :)
See my video
