It has been almost 7 years since I went and had my right hip done by Dr. De Smet and I always said no matter what I will never go to another doctor….well now the time has come and the possibilities are more vast because of the number of choices out there.

Well, I was 50 going on 51 and now I am 56 going on 57… I am a Pilates teacher and have been in the fitness business for 30 years+. I owned and operated a health club through the 80’s and 90’s and as I see it I was forced to slow down with the OA seeping into my joints…Pilates saved my career and has given me the longevity that I needed to remain in business to this day.

I still own and operate a Pilates studio and teach mat classes as well as Private clients. I am on my feet all day every day. The BHR has given me my life! When I traveled to Belgium the BHR was undergoing clinical trials and was not approved by the FDA. The procedure was being done here in the US by a handful of doctors, however, it was not the Birmingham Hip Replacement device. That was a negative as I had heard then that for someone in my field as active as I was and am this was the preferred device.

The cost was 3 times as much here for a device that I did not want and the money was coming out of our pockets I know people that mortgaged their houses to get their surgeries… After researching and with a lot of help from the people I met through the Yahoo Surfacehippy Discussion Group, I decided to go to Belgium.

My trip to Belgium was like many others, al ot of beer, chocolate and recovery and re-newed hope. I did not look forward to the flight but it was worth it.  I will not hesitate to return to Belgium in the near future as I am ready for the second time.

Sue RBHR 3/10/02 Dr. Koen De Smet