Miryam Fonken

I was able to go on my trekking trip to Mount Everest base camp! And all thanks to Dr. Andrew Elliott and Vinny Luppino.

When I broke my right ankle, I thought my trip was over, but thanks to Dr. Elliott and Vinny I went to my trip within 10 months from the date of my surgery. I broke my right ankle in four parts. Dr. Elliot put it back together, and I have 10 screws and a plate (check the picture of the x-ray).

Vinny designed a physical therapy program to accomplish not only my trekking goal, but to get me back to my regular sports activities. I was on PT for 5 months and my recovery was a complete success!

To give you an idea of what transpired during the 10 moths, below is a brief chronological account:

November 28, 2021: I broke my right ankle, while hiking (training for the trek).

December 7, 2021: Dr. Elliott performed the surgery

January 31, 2022: I started PT with Vinny twice a week

March 12, 2022: I re-injured my ankle, sprained it falling on the front steps of my house. This was a set back in my recovery; my ankle got swollen and PT had to slow down

Middle of April: I resumed the hiking training in the mountains in combination of exercises at the gym (stair master, elliptical, swimming, weight lifting, treadmill)

July 1, 2022: PT ended

July 13, 2022: last visit with Dr. Elliott

Since the date of the surgery until my discharge, I saw Dr. Elliott on a regular basis.

During my visits with Dr. Elliott, he was caring, listened to my concerns, and his kind words gave me the encouragement and confidence to continue with my training for the trek.

During my PT sessions, Vinny was great, coming up with nontraditional exercises to help me with the hiking training and with my recovery to perform all my physical activities. He also encouraged me to not give up and he designed and came up with new exercises to make sure my ankle returned to its prebreak conditioning.

The trek required hiking daily for about 6 to 7 hours a day in high altitude, climbing higher and higher every day. Vinny suggested that as part of my training, before my trip, I should do a week of daily 7 hours hiking in high altitude to see how my ankle responded, as well as to check how my body responded to the high altitude.

Following his advice, in the middle of September I went to Leadville, CO (10,151'). I went on hikes up the mountains, for about 5 to 6 hours daily. I climbed Mt. Elbert (14, 439') twice, one during a snow storm, and another time on a clear sunny day. I also climbed Mt. Massive (14,428'). Check the pics.

My right ankle gave me no problems at all, and the high altitude didn't affect me.

My trek started October 14, 2022. During my trek in Nepal, I realized that Vinny's suggestion of hiking in high altitude as part of my training, was crucial! Without that training, I would have not been able to do the hike/trek in Nepal and do so well. I am proud to say that I was at the front of the pack (14 people). My call name: the Jack Rabbit.

Unfortunately, my trip was cut short because, my roommate got COVID. She had to be evacuated, and since we had been sleeping in the same room, I got it 4 days later. Before I got COVID, I made it to Ama Dablam base camp at 15,099', compared to Mt. Everest Base Camp that is at 17,598'. No one in the group made it to Mt Everest Base Camp. Two days after I was evacuated, the trek was cancelled because the leader of the trek got COVID and there were only two participants left that didn't get COVID (I think they had a natural immunity because a couple of months before the trip they got COVID). So, everyone had to be evacuated.

If it wasn't because of the COVID epidemic in my group, I am sure that I would have made it to Mt. Everest Base Camp with most of the participants.

Skiing season is back and my ankle has not given me any problems at all.

Dr. Elliott and Vinny are the best. I could not have been in better hands. I am forever grateful!

Thanks Dr. Elliott!

Thank you Vinny!