"This commendation goes to the team effort of three specific individuals that made it possible for me to continue to walk and live a normal unrestricted life. It started with the keen skills of Dr. Brian Halpern who instantly recognized that my sudden onset of shin splints was a serious lower back problem that had developed. I was training at 65 to take my first vacation in years to go climbing in the Alps."
"In 2011, I tore the medial meniscus of my right knee and had it repaired at a large New York hospital. Expecting a full recovery in six weeks, what followed ..."
"My own personal miracle corrected my serious spinal and scoliosis in a single operation and gave me back a quality of life, which I didn't think possible at my age."
"About three years ago, my shoulder started dislocating when using it. I always wanted to get the surgery, but was scared. It wasn't half as bad as I thought I was gonna be and little did I know I was surfing in 2 months."
"My game is not a sport. It's the game of life. I have an autoimmune disease called myositis. My treatment includes oral prednisone and monthly infusions of IVIG. When I first got sick almost 20 years ago I was 44. I was an elementary school teacher but had to leave due to extreme weakness in my arms and legs. I could barely walk or bathe myself. I refused to just give in to the disease and view my life as over. "
"Since my total hip replacement I have gone skiing, played ice hockey, surfed, and I just returned from a hiking and fishing expedition in Olympic Park. None of these activities had been possible prior to my surgery, but now I enjoy them all with absolutely no pain."

