Today marks three years of remarkable, painfree, unrestricted life after a resurfacing on 15Dec04. In my case, for you who are new here, I was crippled after a handball mishap in May of 1996. I had to stand, leaning on crutches, to check into the hospital, because it finally hurt too much to sit down again. We had a fine band of friends in Gent...Deborah Page, Gordon Jackson, Jean from BC, Jay Brand. At last reports, all were living completely unrestricted lives. To mark the anniversary, I have, in the past reprised my first post-op posting from Gent. I do it one more time. This the post: from Dec. 18, 2004.
Steve Cohan, Completes his First Ironman Ever Post Surgery!
"Our growing club should have open doors, promoting an active lifestyle is the only price for admission."
Steve Cohan had surgery with Dr. Koen De Smet in Belgium on January 15, 2003. On October 5, 2007, Steve emailed me and asked me to get him in touch with Cory Foulk because his wife had just decided to register them both for the Ironman 2008 in Wisconsin.
I had my C+ device surgery done on 9-9-2009 by Dr De Smet. Reason for me started with restriction of movement, no being able to tie my shoelaces not being able to swim, not being able to stand up from the couch in the evenings and to quickly walk to the fridge, without being very stiff in the lower back. Just a couple of months before the surgery I could not sleep without a pillow between my legs. At one point my youngest kid (3yrs back then) pushed my knee inwards while I was watching television and it was as if someone pushed a knife in my groin area. PAINFULL!!!
LBHR C+ resurfacing done by Dr De Smet at Gent, Belgium
I had to stop jogging about four years ago due to chronic lower back pain, which got worse after running. I'd already put up with a fair amount of discomfort during the preceding years because I was a keen runner and jogging was an important part of my social life here in Belgium. But I finally had to switch to cycling to keep fit and to meet up with my running friends. At that time I wasn't aware that I had a hip problem.
The following is an account of my bilateral hip resurfacing adventure gathered from some emails I had sent and some of which were posted on the Surface Hippy website. I hope they will give an insight for anyone interested in traveling to Belgium for hip resurfacing with Dr. Koen De Smet.
Hip Resurfacing: Personal Experience
Ann's LBHR surgery with Dr. Koen DeSmet, July 3, 2007
October 21, 2008
Diagnosed and Treated for Dysplasia as a Toddler
In 1968, when I was two years old, I was diagnosed as having dysplasia of the left hip (also known as congenital hip dislocation). The joint had not developed properly and the femur was dislocated. I walked with a limp. My parents took me to a leading orthopedic surgeon at the University of Chicago Medical Hospitals. The doctor originally planned to put me in traction for about a week, after which he would perform open surgery to place the femur in an abducted position, and then cast it in plaster. He expected I would be in a series of body casts for two years, changed every six months.
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!
Colleen Hennessy (DAST Candidate)
4/15/08 Dr. Koen De Smet
I returned to the USA in August, 2007, after a 27 month Peace Corps assignment in the rain forest on a mountaintop in Honduras. My little village had rough, rocky roads, and with an aching hip, it was sometimes quite a struggle to hike the half mile uphill to my house. On three different occasions, I fell and cut my knees. My hip was getting worse but I said nothing to the Peace Corps Medical Unit. You were sent home permanently and your service as a volunteer was abruptly ended if you had a problem like a hip that required surgery. I loved my time in Honduras, the people, the orchids, butterflies and the opportunity to spend 2+ years away from the fast pace of the USA. So I put up with the pain. I would admit it at the end of my service.
Jared Manders (please scroll to the bottom for recent updates and a photo of Jared with the President of the Unted States, Obama!)
Sun 12/7/2008 6:22 PM
Well Its 2:50 AM as in THE MORNING WHEN NO ONE IS AWAKE, even Possibly alive!
My fellow hipster wrote me and commented how exciting this is.
Exciting my ass...
I am up at the wrong times now and cant sleep.
This is my plug for resurfacing in general, and Dr. DeSmet & Company, in particular.
Dr. DeSmet resurfaced my left hip on May 13th in Gent. (I'm a 55 year old, active female.) Surgery was in the new, modern hospital about 6km from the Villa. (My husband borrowed a bike from the Villa to ride out to see me.) The care and facility were great. After only a day, I went back to the Villa, and stayed there just 6 more days and flew back to the States. I was on minimal pain pills.
Last year at 74 I was diagnosed with a heart problem. This was a big surprise to my cardiologist as I had no family history, do not smoke, no weight problems, went to fitness 3 times a week and am a vegetarian. An angiogram showed 40% occlusion in two main arteries plus completely blocked small artery. I got a second opinion which concurred with initial diagnosis with exception that a flow test could have made.
It is a beautiful day here is Jackson, Wyoming, a bit cold but the sun is bright and shinning which makes me happy.
I overnight in Chicago and arrive in Brussels at 7:30 am. I plan to do a lot of relaxing and sleeping on the way. For those of you that know me well, you would know that my perfectionism would have and did kick in last night doing my last minute packing. So I was up late last night, too embarrassed to say how late. I know that as soon as I sit on the plane I will be out like a light.
"Hello everyone - I am new to this group and have read many of the posts. Now I begin my search for doctor(s) on the west coast that are trained in hip resurfacing. I was diagnosed six years ago with osteoarthritis in both hips and within the last few months, the pain has become unbearable. Originally, my os prescribed "Synvisc" injections but my health insurer denied the request - even on two appeals. I told the doc I would pay out of pocket but he said my hips are shot and that I wouldn't get much relief and to just get the surgery. He talked about THR - he didn't even discuss resurfacing. Just said, "give me a month notice," and sent me on my way as I began to cry. I am 51 with an almost 12-year old son and I feel, after researching on the Net, that resurfacing may be better option, esp. since I will need bilateral."
Yo, Hippy Kids...
I had my C+ device surgery done on 9-9-2009 by Dr De Smet. Reason for me started with restriction of movement, no being able to tie my shoelaces not being able to swim, not being able to stand up from the couch in the evenings and to quickly walk to the fridge, without being very stiff in the lower back. Just a couple of months before the surgery I could not sleep without a pillow between my legs. At one point my youngest kid (3yrs back then) pushed my knee inwards while I was watching television and it was as if someone pushed a knife in my groin area. PAINFULL!!! 
The decision to have a LBHR C+ resurfacing done
The following is an account of my bilateral hip resurfacing adventure gathered from some emails I had sent and some of which were posted on the Surface Hippy website. I hope they will give an insight for anyone interested in traveling to Belgium for hip resurfacing with Dr. Koen De Smet. 
Hip Resurfacing: Personal Experience
Hi Vicky!
Colleen Hennessy (
Jared Manders (please scroll to the bottom for recent updates and a photo of Jared with the President of the Unted States, Obama!) 
"Hello everyone - I am new to this group and have read many of the posts. Now I begin my search for doctor(s) on the west coast that are trained in hip resurfacing. I was diagnosed six years ago with osteoarthritis in both hips and within the last few months, the pain has become unbearable. Originally, my os prescribed "Synvisc" injections but my health insurer denied the request - even on two appeals. I told the doc I would pay out of pocket but he said my hips are shot and that I wouldn't get much relief and to just get the surgery. He talked about THR - he didn't even discuss resurfacing. Just said, "give me a month notice," and sent me on my way as I began to cry. I am 51 with an almost 12-year old son and I feel, after researching on the Net, that resurfacing may be better option, esp. since I will need bilateral." 
