Final Project - Grateful for Modern Medicine

Life can always be hard, but sometimes we begin ours with secrets that surface unexpectedly.  My life has changed a lot in the last three years because of amazing new surgical advancements.  If it was 200 years ago, I would have most likely been rolled off the trail.  This is the story of how my hip condition saved my heart...

A congenital hip problem kept me looking at the mountain

 instead of hiking it with my family.

I finally found the right doctor.

Before double hip replacement                             

                                                                         after.

Dr. Mariani and Portia

Wait! Something's still wrong—my hips work

but I still can't exercise without gasping.

I never expected I'd also need part of my heart replaced

(that's my defunct aortic valve, not a tortellini)

Finally—I can hit the trail.

Thank you Dr. Mariani...