Cameron, Knoxville

20 years ago, I had an ACL reconstruction done by my KOC partner, Dr. Greg Mathien. Three weeks prior, I was playing church league basketball (at age 37) and landed after an otherwise innocent rebound and felt a strange thunk in my left knee. Everybody else thought I had rolled my ankle. I knew it was different (I am a pediatric orthopedist at KOC). Three days later, I let myself accept the truth and let Dr. Mathien examine my knee. He was calm and talkative as he manipulated my knee, but then said, “Oh yeah. Your ACL is gone.” Three weeks of working out the stiffness and weakness and then day of surgery. I had complete faith and trust in him and all went well. Therapy at KOC started three days later. I was back to work in a week. I was riding a 60 mile bike ride 3 months later, and skiing with college buddies the next winter. I have played with my kids (now all grown), done dozens of triathlons, and gone on many multi-day bike trips for my birthday since then and never had a hint of problem with my knee. Thank you, Dr. Mathien, for letting me push back middle age a couple decades (and counting).