Patient Stories

Zoey

Hello, my name is Zoey. On 4/19/03 (my date of birth) my doctor found clicking on my hips, and I was diagnosed with severe developmental hip dysplasia. I was placed in a hip spica cast at night for 6 months. Doctors told my parents I should not be walking in my cast. Although I defied all odds and placed one foot in front of the other.

Next, I was dancing, cheerleading, running across soccer fields, running the bases in softball, and fast breaking down the basketball court. My love for track and field began at the age of 9. I am the 2015 USATF-Mid-Atlantic Junior Olympic champion of the 200 and 400 meter dash. The following year my hips gave me a run for my money, and I was incapable of competing my 7th grade season of outdoor track. This was not the end. My freshman year of cross country, I placed 37th/98 girls in my district and 41st/54 girls in my league and ranked 3rd on varsity. Freshman year of track, I placed 5th in the league for the 400m dash and 6th in the district for the 400m dash. The school record for the 400m dash is 60.3, my personal record is 61.61. My sophomore year was the year I planned on shattering the school record.

Finally, my sophomore year of cross country— I placed 18th/89 girls in the league, and 24th/85 girls in the district and ranked 2nd on varsity, also receiving league honorable mention. This winter I participated in indoor track and field, and found myself running the 600 meter and 800 meter dash. I pushed myself all season in efforts to increase my speed for outdoor. I experienced excruciating pain in my hips, yet gave 110% to the very end.

Sophomore year of outdoor has arrived, my hips lock consistently, putting me in unbearable pain. After my events my hips lock, yet after 5 minutes I’m capable of walking again. I finally over exerted myself in the 200m dash. I laid on the track for 8+ minutes, incapable of moving, my heart shattered because I knew this was the end. My right hip is believed to had dislocated and torn the cartilage. Right now, I wait for results of my MRI. If my doctors diagnosis is correct, I will need to see a surgeon immediately; and I can kiss my sophomore year of track goodbye.

I’m reaching out because I’m terrified, and I felt it was time to share my story, thank you.