In Her Own Words

"I Am So Grateful That FHN Helped Keep Me On The Playing Field"

Josie McDermott

Josie McDermott heard her knee 'pop' at club soccer practice. It didn't really hurt, so the determined standout just kept playing. When it started to buckle later, she knew she needed a professional opinion. That's when she turned to FHN orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Greg Dammann.

An MRI confirmed Josie had an injury – a torn ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament). After discussing the options, Josie and her family opted for an ACL reconstruction, which allows student athletes to recover and return to playing their sport quickly.

Josie said that Dr. Dammann explained the procedure so well that she didn't feel nervous about her surgery. "He did an excellent job preparing me for what to expect," Josie emphasized. "He even gave me his cell phone number so I could contact him at any time. That gave me a lot of confidence."

Physical therapy played an important part in Josie's recovery too. "I went to PT just five days after surgery," she explained, "and my therapists knew I wanted to be ready to play in six months. They had me set goals and push myself to achieve them. With their guidance, I was healed and able to play Lady Pretz soccer my entire junior and senior seasons. Now, I am heading off to college on a full soccer scholarship. I am so grateful that Dr. Dammann and FHN helped keep me on the playing field."

If you are ready to call time out on an injured, painful, or weak knee, contact FHN's orthopaedics team at 1-877-6000-FHN (877-600-0346), ext. 943. They will help you score a quick return to your favorite activity.