Carole Cohen Toms River, NJ

Who would believe a story that went back about 20 years when a doctor, treating my adrenals, gave me cortisone. Soon after I began to have pain in the groin, I went to an orthopedist who immediately took me off the cortisone and indicated I'd had hip damage. From those days on, I had pain when walking, etc.

As the years went by, the pain got worse and in the meantime I was diagnosed with two rare diseases, Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia and renal amyloidosis. Consequently for fear of losing my kidney function, doctors refused hip surgery. I began using a cane, then a walker, then got stair lifts, and a transport chair and began to realize that I would spend my life in a wheelchair.

Finally my oncologist figured my hips were so bad I might as well try the surgery. I went again to HSS and this time was cleared by various specialists for the surgery which was successful. More than a year later my other hip was done. So here I am, two-hipped and able to walk. I continue to be monitored for my lymphoma, etc and to date am enjoying my old age. As a family therapist, I continue to work part time.