Anna - April 2005, Dr. De Smet

Hi Vicky!

Was really glad to get your e-mail... I know you!!!! Remember the first time you posted on SH... remember how you step by step went to your goal... researching all possible ways... remember how you created your spreadsheet... with all expenses... and was ready to share with every one wanted it... remember thinking how it would be helpful if I had your spreadsheet when I had to make a decision... I was very happy happy for you when you started posted after your surgery...  I admire and respect you for what you have been doing in SH and how you are doing it , how generously you sharing your knowledge, time, soul with all in need... You might remember I once called you and asked to say 'hi' to Koen when he was in SF (?)... Resurfacing for me was a miracle... it gave me better life than I ever even hoped to get... at the time when I had not much hope. It gave me more than that... it gave me friends... Lynn Beyler, Alan, Susan Joyfull...Marji from Germany, Helen from England... Michael from San Jose. Michelle from Madison... many hippies I had chance to meet. Love them!

I posted in the group...long time ago  my story telling how my hips started failing after my family and I moved in USA from Ukraine... We started our life here with pain , with no job, friends,... and no lunguage..... There were bad times... I do not post in the group... because I still after 12 years in this country very uneasy at writing... It must be hard to imagine to you, right? But it's true,... And it's the only reason...i do  not post much.  Every time I read your posts they are resonated to me... it's what I would want to say! I wish I could. I really think that you are amazing, Vicky!

I am sending you a couple of pics...  they can 'illustrate  my hip story'.

1. 5th day after the surgery - in the hotel in Gent... with husband and my friend who came from Moscow.
2. 30th day after surgery... - it was my mom's b-day... no cruches... we came from restaurant.
3. 1 year and 3 months after the surgery with my husband, Koen , and Hugo .at Anca clinic. I just wanted to see Koen and say thank you to him!! He was glad to see us... We went to london and Paris... and walking hours...and hours.
4. With Koen, Hugo, and Peggy Gabriel... in Madison...

Anna