ACL Injury and more

I went on my yearly trip with family to enjoy the sport we all love----skiing! A ski trip was how I met my husband 30 years ago and we have skied together ever since. This year, it happened - one of those injuries that is going to take time and hard work to recover. I briefly considered not having the surgery to replace my ACL which would mean giving up my sport. After all, people have said, "you are 59 now so maybe it is time to stop skiing". But skiing for me is freedom and special moments with my husband and grown daughters that would be hard to replace. It is skiing in the forest and watching the squirel scamper across the snow, watching each other ski a bit better each year and getting to know their friends in a fun environment and having drinks and dinner together after a fun, long day on the slopes and sharing stories - how can I give that up?
The accident happened on January 3, 2010 at the top of a difficult black run on our first day. I had a small fall and heard the dreaded "pop" as the ACL tore. The ski patrol did a great job managing to get me safely down this steep hill in a sled. We were at Copper Mountain in Colorado. At the bottom of the mountain, there was an excellent first aid station where I was x-rayed and given a brace and crutches. I returned home in a few days and was getting around pretty well. I went to therapy to prepare for surgery. After a bit of research, I settled on Dr. Carter for the surgery to replace my ACL. I am Irish so what better day then St. Patrick's Day for the surgery? I had a "block" when they did the surgery so it was so nice not to have to take any pain pills. I stayed numb enough for the first 24 hours that I only had to take Tylenol to relieve the pain. The surgery was at 7:30 a.m. and I was home by lunchtime!