Can you guys believe 2017 is already over?! Also, can you believe I haven't written a blog post since August? Things really picked up and got busy these last few months, which definitely isn't a bad thing. I figured this would be an appropriate post to kick off writing some more content.

Like always, I enjoy reflecting on the last year to evaluate the good, the bad, what was accomplished, and what could be improved in the next year to come. The last few years, I struggled a lot with my health and saw it as an opportunity to grow both professionally and personally. In the back of my head, I couldn't help but wonder when things were finally going to turn around and become "good" again for me, however I tried to remain outwardly positive, powered through, and remembered that God always has a plan for each of us that we know nothing about.

This year has truly been my most prosperous year in my adult life, and I finally see how God's plan continues to unfold. Over the course of this week in my yoga classes, the beginning of our practice prompts us to set an intention before we begin the physical aspect of the hour. We have been prompted to reflect on 2017 and what we would like to make room for in 2018, or anything we may be hanging on to that doesn't serve us. I can't help but think of the many doubts I had this time last year about the future of my health and professional life, and how many of those doubts have been answered. Yesterday at the end of my yoga practice in savasana, my instructor told us that "peace is possible, but we must choose peace." Well, I'm finally choosing peace.

The recap...

I began this year unsure of...really, anything. The year started off with me reading The Universe Has Your Back by Gabrielle Bernstein on a plane, which aims to transform fear into faith to live a divinely guided life, and enable the readers to truly live in the moment. I learned the quote, "the wound is the place where light enters you." This was great symbolism for what was to come, and I didn't even know it at the time.

In February, after getting involved in the Lupus Foundation of America upon being diagnosed with lupus in 2016, I was invited to be an inaugural member of the LFA Community Ambassador Program in NYC. This was a true blessing, where I am able to speak on behalf of the foundation and go into a professional setting and share MY story with lupus and how important awareness and funding is for our future. From this, I've met incredibly motivating people who also have lupus, who I consider to be a second family. In February I also began practicing yoga, and have been bettering my mental and physical health ever since. This has been a great alternative to weight lifting, which is impossible for me to do on a bad lupus day. I have the opportunity to test my physical and mental limits every day, which is a unique opportunity.

In March, I found a new rheumatologist who actually listens to everything I say pertaining to my disease, and actually takes everything I say very seriously. This biggest challenge people with chronic illnesses have is people not believing their pain and symptoms, since most of the time we physically look healthy. My doctor and I have thus far built an amazing relationship. Lupus is a complex disease with an infinite amount of manifestations. I actually have hope for the outcome of my illness and treatment course knowing that we are working together. Although in October he found degeneration in my lumbar spine and sacroiliac joints from my inflammation (pretty much the only bad thing about 2017), he quickly wanted to help me and prescribed me weekly injections of anti-tumor necrosis factor biologics to halt this process in hope to give me a better quality of life.

In May, I was able to go on a fantastic vacation to Marco Island, FL with my family! Some much-needed relaxation prior to what was to come in the following months. I also started Team Wolf Pack for the Walk to End Lupus Now NYC, and we raised a new record since last year! (P.S., if any of you want to join in the fun next May, we're always accepting new team members!). This year, the LFA reported that they are putting $3.8 million towards stem cell research projects for lupus patients. This was a direct result all of YOUR efforts in raising awareness and fundraising. A cure is in sight, and we're not giving up until it happens!

June came around, and went on to change my life. I received my total knee replacement surgery at the ripe age of 23, after years of struggling with injury, lupus, infection and inflammation. After 7 surgeries and stem cell treatments, I was finally able to put it all behind me and live like a real 20-something. You can read details about my journey here. Now almost 7 months out, I am happy to report that I am walking around pain-free which used to be unthinkable, and I am challenging my new knee to new limits everyday. I also was able to teach myself how to run again at my six month mark which is unheard of. I could not be more thankful to Dr. Sculco and the Hospital for Special Surgery for taking on my unusual and complicated case with ease and confidence, and ultimately giving me my life back.

Dr. Sculco and myself following my life-changing surgery

In July, I celebrated three amazing years with my boyfriend, Joe. In the month before, he sat in the waiting room with my parents for ten hours while I had my surgery done and was experiencing some issues in the recovery room. If that's not the definition of love and support, then I don't know what is! I'm thankful for all he does and to have him with me in this journey through life.

August rolled around and I began by visiting Joe's family in Chicago, and I went and saw my first Cubs game! It's always a great time being with them and we always pick up right where we left off!

Joe and I playing tourist at the Bean in Chicago

At the end of that same month, after being accepted just before my knee replacement surgery, I was preparing to begin my first semester of graduate school at NYU. I feel that the timing of the acceptance was God's way of telling me "this is your time." Things completely turned around, and has been on an upward trend from there. NEVER in a million years did I think that I would be accepted to NYU for graduate school, that was always a "what if" in my head. But this year, I was accepted to the two year MPH program with a great scholarship, and am now a part of an extremely tight-knit cohort in the largest city with unbelievable opportunities right at our fingertips. These incredible people are from a variety of different backgrounds with different experiences; my world has totally opened up. They offer never-ending support to one another, and some have become my best friends. Life has changed since beginning this program, for the better, and every day I wake up still in disbelief and gratitude.

Some of my new MPH cohort of incredible people!

I found my true purpose professionally as well. I decided to concentrate in Healthcare Policy and Management in my MPH program, which will enable me to rid the healthcare system of inefficiencies either through management consulting, or the executive/strategy and operations division of a hospital system or pharmaceutical company. With this, I want to ultimately create a more impactful and patient-centered medical environment. As a patient who has been through a tremendous amount in my young adult life, this is so empowering to be in this position of management and execution. I can't wait to get out there in the world and begin to make a difference in the lives of many.

Every detail of 2017 has continued to surprise me and has allowed me to become closer to my faith. This time last year, I never would have thought I would be where I am today, but here I am! Having faith, not wavering from your goals, and gaining strength from negative experiences is what you need to gain success in life. Be open-minded and receptive to all experiences, knowing that theres a purpose for each and every one of them. I am eager to see what 2018 has to offer, 2017 will be a tough one to beat! Happy New Year everyone, and many blessings to come!

Our fourth annual Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree picture

Celebrating the end of the semester. We're a quarter of a way to being MPH's!

The Lupus Foundation of America Evening of Hope Gala 2017 with my amazing date!

Marco Island, FL

When I Was Forced to Grow Up

So, it is officially a month (well, more like 5 weeks) since my total knee replacement operation.
How am I doing?

According to many of the medical professionals I have spoken with, my recovery is nothing less than a miracle. Typically 6-8 months out, many people are complaining of lack of mobility, pain, decreased range of motion, stiffness, along with a multitude of other issues that would arise after you get a new joint put into your leg. It is expected to take an entire YEAR for an implant to actually feel like your knee again. Somehow at three weeks, I was strutting along without crutches! At two weeks, I was walking with one crutch. I think that when they got me up in the hospital the next day after surgery with the walker, my confidence grew exponentially and helped push this along. I continued on with the "nothing can stop me" attitude. Now although I still have some mild pain/achiness in my bones from the trauma of this surgery, I'm casually walking around (limiting the distance so I don't flare up like crazy), but many people have said that they would not have even noticed that I had surgery just a month ago. INSANE!

What's therapy like? 

My range of motion is past the 90 degree landmark, more like at 105 degrees, so I am starting to begin various activities and will be able to begin my strengthening soon (I have a baby quad from all the atrophying right after my surgery, so I may be a tiny bit self-conscious). Range of motion is huge when recovering from knee replacement surgery, or even any knee surgery for that matter, so that you can get back to carrying out daily life tasks and activities as you wish without scar tissue formation. Before surgery, I was only bending my knee at 112 degrees from the arthritis and deformity, so only a month out I am almost better off than I was before with many more months of healing to go! In therapy, I began hamstring curls, the stationary bike, squat tosses against the wall, one legged ball tosses on a nerf for balance, weighted straight leg raises and kick backs, resistance band exercises as well as heat, ice and ROM therapy. I also gained the balance on my feet to begin upper body workouts/lifts again in the gym, so I don't feel entirely like a lazy blob anymore. I actually learned something very interesting this week in therapy. Typically for an injury, a therapist places ice as well as stim which are small electrical pulses via pads on the skin to activate muscle and blood flow. For my knee replacement, I was wondering why I didn't have stim used like the rest of my surgeries. Apparently, there's a small risk that the electrical pulses can reach the implant, and my implant will actually CONDUCT electricity in my leg! Ya learn something new/crazy every day.

What's the word? 

Today, I had my follow up at the Hospital for Special Surgery with my surgeon as well as a routine rheumatologist appointment at NYU Langone to keep my lupus in check. My surgeon legitimately called me a miracle patient. After all I've been through, and after only a month recovery, he said I look as if I am a patient 6 months out of a total knee replacement surgery. I beat the odds with my mindset and I am honestly so proud of myself. I can begin strengthening as I can tolerate which will help me feel like a normal person again! He said that I had a special implant specifically designed for my knee, which also requires no cruciate (ACL and PCL) ligaments so I will never have to worry about injuring my knee. As you can see in the pictures above, I have a real joint space finally. I was bone on bone medially and laterally, and my knee cap was deteriorating. Now, my knee is aligned at the correct angles, and I have a full and mobile joint space. His success rate 20 years out of TKR is 92%. It is a dream come true following this journey. Dr. Sculco has truly changed my life forever.

On another note, my lupus is currently under control and I will continue with Plaquenil and Meloxicam (given my blood tests don't show anything). Both amazing and uplifting appointments, this never happens! Who am I?!

Noticeable Differences in My Daily Life and in Therapy:

1. No Actual Joint Pain or Crepitus (Crunchiness): Up until my TKR, I would always freak people out by having them feel my leg bending and straightening, and actually having it crunch right under their hand. Usually, it was even audible. As you can see in my x-rays, I was entirely bone-on-bone and had no joint space, which caused the bones to rub together while moving and caused that crunching feeling and sound. If I'm up and about walking around, this is NOT good and this signals that every time I moved my leg, I was essentially causing more damage that I could feel with each step. Now, the only leg pain I have is that of the surgery, where I get achiness in my femur (thigh bone) or tibia (shin bone), from them hammering the implant in just a month ago. My joint however has no crepitus and doesn't crunch/make noise, and my joint doesn't actually hurt to put pressure on! I finally have the joint space and support I never had.

2. Smooth Transitions and Fluid Motions: Similar to the point above, because I have this joint space and finished-off joint surfaces, my leg doesn't click and clunk all the time. My PT mentioned that in the past as I was recovering, from behind he was able to see the transition points of my leg straightening and bending as I walked across the room. The point he was trying to make is that there were catching and locking points that you can visually see from the damage and uneven surfaces in my joint. Now, it is one big fluid motion as I walk, with no visual difference between each flexion point (i.e. I walk like a normal person finally).

3. Proper Alignment of My Entire Leg: MY LEG IS STRAIGHT!!! For the last few years, I struggled so much with walking that I learned how to adapt to my new joint alignment. From the extensive arthritis and damage, I had a slight leg discrepancy and my leg bowed inward. I compensated for this by walking on the outside of my foot to avoid the pain with walking heel-to-toe, in addition to attempting to correct something that could not be corrected. Now I am in gait training, where I am learning to walk straight (heel-to-toe) again. It feels so wrong (from walking incorrectly for so long), but it feels so right (pain-free!!!!) This will in the end, help avoid injury to the rest of my body from overcompensation.