10 Year HR Anniversary of my BHR with Dr. De Smet 2006

[Pat Walter]

Today (March 15, 2016) is the 10^th anniversary of my BHR (Birmingham Hip Resurfacing Device by Smith and Nephew) surgery.  My BHR is still going strong with no problems at all.  It feels just like my other unoperated hip – normal.


I traveled to Dr. De Smet in Belgium in 2006 because there were not many experienced hip resurfacing surgeons in the US.  Also, I did not have health insurance and could not afford surgery in the US.  Dr. De Smet had performed about 2000 surgeries at that time and was used by many hip patients in the US.  I talked to quite a few of his patients via email and phone.  I also emailed Dr. De Smet and he answered all my questions.


My experience in Belgium was wonderful.  I received my BHR and in a few days was visiting the great shops and restaurants in Ghent.  I had a very quick recovery.


When I was searching for information about hip resurfacing, there was very little available in 2005.  The Yahoo Hip Resurfacing Discussion Group was about the only resource.  I wanted to share information about hip resurfacing to help people learn there is another option than a THR.  I started the www.surfacehippy.info website as a patient guide in 2005.  The website continued to grow during the next 11 years.  It features articles about hip resurfacing, patient stories, frequently asked questions and surgeon information.  The website is a resource for perspective patients to learn about hip resurfacing. I wrote a book about my experience Belgium and my BHR by Patricia Walter

I still work on the website every day as a full time job.  It has grown and changed over the years.  Last summer I updated it to a WordPress website that is now mobile responsive for phones, tablets and laptops.  About 1000+ visitors a day use Surface Hippy Website.  A large discussion group called Hip Talk has 4500+ members and is very active.  Over a thousand personal stories are shared in the Personal Stories Section.


I look forward to providing updates about my BHR and updates to the Surface Hippy website for many years to come.


Patricia Walter
BHR March 15, 2006 with Dr. De Smet of Belgium
 

[Paul_D]

Congratulations on a fantastic milestone and thankyou very much for creating this environment for all those that follow in your path.

[blinky]

Amen!


Thanks Pat and here's to the next ten years.

[evant]

Well done Pat.


You're one of the people that make the world a better place.

[moe]

Congratulations Pat and thank you for the site and work you put into it.


moe

[Woodstock Hippy]

Congratulations Pat, I'm wishing you many more years of hippy living.


I swim with a guy who has had a steel on steel THR for over 25 year with no ill effects.  Let's hope we can all beat his record!


Congratulations and thank you for this website!!

[shoraztri]

Hi Pat,
CONGRATS ON THIS GREAT ACHIEVEMENT.  [size=78%]I can only reiterate what all other "hippies" are saying, which is without this Website and your foresight and visions, alot of us would be struggling today.[/size]
[/size][size=78%]Thanks for all your hard work and dedication.[/size]
[/size][size=78%]Cheers, [/size]
[/size][size=78%] Kiwi Boy, from Down Under.[/size]
[/size]

[Tim Bratten]

Congratulations Pat! ... glad to hear you're doing well ... and thanks once again for helping me find De Smet who fixed me up too.

[LMS]

10 years already, that's awesome!

[JHippy]

Wow, fantastic. Huge milestone! Congratulations!

And... you did more than just get your hips fixed. By providing quality resources and information you also helped who knows how many other people as well. I'm one of them. Thank you. You're an angel.

[mari]

Congratulations, Pat!  I am indebted to you because I learned so much from this site.  In fact, here is where I learned about Dr. Gross, who did my resurfacing.  I am so glad you decided to share so much information after you had your resurfacing.  Thank you for your help!

[karlos.bell]

  Awesome Pat

[toby]

Brilliant Pat- what a milestone!
Best Wishes
Toby