Victoria perseveres: Knee surgery brings new possibilities

“Last can be better than first.  It can be bigger than anything when getting there wasn’t supposed to happen,” says Chris Voye, a few hours after his 12-year-old daughter Victoria’s first cross-country meet.
Victoria fell in love with running six years earlier during a summer track program. She had hoped to participate the following summer, but began experiencing problems with her knees.
“It started when I was in second grade,” recalls Victoria. She’d be running or jumping, and one of her kneecaps would slide to the side. She’d stumble and fall. The condition affected both knees.
When she was 8, Victoria was diagnosed with patellar instability; her kneecaps regularly dislocated.
After three knee surgeries between the ages of 9 and 11, doctors cautioned Victoria she might never run again.
And for two years after that warning, Victoria didn’t run.
Then on Sept. 12, 2016, Victoria laced up her running shoes. She felt a little nervous about testing her knees, but she wanted to get a one-mile run under her belt before the start of cross-country season.
How was her first mile in two years? “It felt good. I was a little slower than I wanted,” she admits.
Victoria continues, “I know how to persevere. I don’t give up.”
Victoria’s knee surgeries
When Victoria’s knee problems started, Chris took his daughter to her pediatrician, who referred her to an orthopedic surgeon. The next stop was a pediatric orthopedic specialist, who inserted metal plates t...

Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - October 13, 2016 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Lisa Fratt Tags: Our Patients’ Stories Division of Sports Medicine Dr. Benton Heyworth Orthopedic Center Source Type: news