Elizabeth Durovich

I remember when I thought I'd never be able to walk again. It was that bad. I had become obsessed with getting fit and fighting through the pain. My trainer told me I had shin splints. I was the All-Star Varsity softball player at South Brunswick High school and an all-around athlete. I was competing in swimming and soccer as well. We used to train hard. Lots of running, calisthenics, weight-training, and cardio activities. The team always stretched, and prepared for a challenging workout, but I felt like something was wrong. A number of times the pain was so bad and at one point, I could see my muscle come out of the tissue in my right shin. I pushed it back in. Many doctors I saw for this problem kept telling me physical therapy was the option. The trainer continued to place me in ice baths, assisted stretching, and told me it was something with the shoes I was wearing. It was more than that, and I kept getting misdiagnosed.

I met Dr. Hannafin through a friend at school, who also had a case identical to mine. She was the one who diagnosed me with exertional and chronic compartment syndrome. I was 15 years old at the time. As I walked through her office, I remember seeing star professional athlete pictures on the walls with their black Sharpie signatures. It was such a motivator to get back and playing. The pain had me on and off the field at this point. After thorough testing, it was determined the pressure in my lower legs were extremely high, to the point where I could barely walk. I remember crawling in to the office one night because the pain was so bad and the physician assistant reassured me surgery is scheduled as planned and I would see the difference when it was done. My family and I drove back to New Jersey, where we lived and waited patiently for the day of the surgery.

The surgery was everything that I expected through the teaching beforehand. Dr. Hannafin and her team were thorough, so there were no surprises. Slowly but surely, I made the recovery. I listened to everything they said so that I could continue living my dreams. The incision markings healed beautifully and I was back playing back on the field. I finished the last two seasons in high school and decided to continue personal fitness goals after graduating.

It is now 15 years since the day of my surgery, and I owe my life to Dr. Hannafin. At 32 years old, I am running. It is amazing. I never thought I'd run again. I currently run anywhere from 6-12 miles a week and I owe every stride to her. Without this surgery, I would have been disabled and handicapped. I remember the pain and the pressure every time I was running. It cast a dark shadow over me, not being able to perform to my ability. But now, I see the light. I see the beauty of being fit and working out at the gym without restrictions. I am proud of the small incision sites still seen on my shins, but only noticeable when I point them out. They tell a story about my strength and courage. Leaving my team as an All-Star player to go through a surgery that would later on be the saving grace in my life, I now know how grateful I am. I will never complain about walking or having to go the extra mile. Currently living in New York, sometimes I walk instead of take the subway, just so I can reminisce and be thankful for my health. And a lot of that thanks goes to a wonderful person, Dr. Jo Hannafin. Dr. Hannafin saved my life. Thank you to Hospital for Special Surgery. You make it possible when others could not.