The wear on the cartilage due to osteoarthritis in both knees was so severe that I could not walk more than half a block. This situation was terrible since I am an active woman. A friend told me about Hospital for Special Surgery and I called to set an appointment, Dr. Alejandro Leali saw me after x-rays and gave me his diagnosis and treatment options. I decided to get both knee replacements at the same time. Dr. Friedrich Boettner was the surgeon and my life was changed. I turned to be the active woman I was before surgery who walks up to 2 miles and bike almost 3 miles. I also enjoy hiking once in a while. I'm very grateful to the doctors involved and all those wonderful people who helped in my recovery in the physical therapy department. My surgery was on 24 November 2010.