My Comeback Story: Lisa K.

As a nurse, I provided excellent care to my patients. As a wife, when my husband's back was broken in 2 places-I provided excellent care for him. As a Mom, I took great care raising my children. Somehow, I forgot to take excellent care of myself. Until 3 vertebrae collapsed and both knees were bone-on-bone. With my spine collapsed and me now weighing in a 349 lbs., my future looked sad. One day, I was at my wits end with the pain in my knees and my back. I purchased a rollator and began my journey of taking care of me. I knew my nursing career was over and I still mourn that. However, in 1999 I was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes and insulin was the only immediate response to my A1C of 11.8. I had let myself go. Now, I had to pick myself up and start again. I began walking only the sidewalk in front of my home, eventually I was traversing the neighborhood sidewalk. I began to lose weight which relieved some of the pressure on my spine and my knees. In 2014 Dr. Prato assured me that replacements where in my future. Until then, we used cortisone injections in my knees. Eventually I received bilateral Knee replacements 3 months apart. This enabled me to walk further and take off more excess weight. Other joint replacements as well as fusions were to come. Finally, I was taking care of myself and allowed me to be in the top 5 most important reasons to get healthier and stay that way. I now enjoy the company and activities with my 9 grandchildren.