Claire Fraser

I had arthroscopic surgery on my right knee in 2004 for an extensive meniscus tear and was told at the time that I would likely need knee replacement surgery sometime in the future. Over time, the pain and swelling in my right knee worsened and then my left knee also started to bother me. Orthopedic evaluations in Maryland revealed that arthritis had progressed to the point where I was bone-on-bone in both knees. I was very apprehensive about having surgery, and kept delaying the inevitable, but it was becoming increasingly difficult to walk for any period of time. I had heard from friends and colleagues that HSS was the place to go for any orthopedic procedure. What finally brought me to Dr. Della Valle and HSS was the fact that I was no longer able to pursue my passion for competitive ballroom dancing. I was at a competition in Prague in 2019 and couldn’t even dance half of the heats I had signed up for. So I knew that I really shouldn’t wait, but COVID forced me to wait a bit longer. I saw Dr. Della Valle in December 2022, had my first knee replacement in April 2023 and my second in February 2024. Rehab was long and difficult but I was determined to get back on the dance floor. I was able to return to Prague this past July and I danced more over three days than I ever did previously. While I still have more work to do, I did place third in a one of my events. From the beginning to the end of the process, I received outstanding care from many dedicated and compassionate providers at HSS. Dr. Della Valle and his office staff were the very best. Thank you doesn’t come close to expressing the gratitude that I have for what HSS did to give me back my life.