The first hip replacement at the right side was done in 1980 after an accident. The emergency operation took place at the Columbia University Medical Center by Dr. Louis Bigliani.

In 1982 in a Hotel while on vacation in the Bahamas. I fell over an unmarked step, and broke my hip again as well as the right knee and since I could not walk anymore, I was immediately flown to New York and operated the next day, again by Dr. Louis Bigliani with the assistance of the famous Dr. Stinchfield. It was the second hip replacement.

In June 2000 I went to the Emergency Department of the Columbia University Medical Center because of a painful swelling of my feet and legs. During that stay the Orthopaedic Surgeons thought it might be useful to check my right hip and X-rays revealed that there was an urgent necessity to replace the hip - after nearly 20 years.

The operation was scheduled for the end of September 2000. The operating surgeon was Dr. William B. Macaulay. Dr. Louis Bigliani was also present during the operation. Even when I was brought into the operating room I saw Dr. Macaulay and his team and I had immediately the sensation that I would be in good hands because the team was already at its place in absolute silence and they started working immediately and it looked like being in a movie and that this kind of perfection and discipline was unreal. When I observed all this in these first moments I was confident that I would come through this serious operation with the best that could be done and with the help of God.

What in my opinion made the operation furthermore difficult was that I am suffering, since several years, of emphysema and asthma, but which is perfectly under control and it was managed by Dr. Roger Maxfield, well known Pulmonologist of the Columbia University Medical Center.

My daughter came from Paris for the operation and assisted me in everything a patient can wish in keeping up the spirit and facilitating the common necessities of life.

It can be stated that the Orthopaedic Department of the Columbia University Medical Center is under a special discipline and guidance, and that besides the doctors' team and the nurses, there is an outstanding kindness throughout the department and the organization so that the patient's feeling is that the best is still to come and the worst is over.

In the department of physical therapy there is a warm atmosphere and care for the patients' well being. The psychological gatherings in the afternoon bring a welcome lift of the spirit to the patients, and besides the various stages of exercise, when it comes to games, or the cooking class, and the craft classes, things which I did not experience before, everybody wanted to attend. At my age of 83 years I am now well prepared to travel again without assistance. My hip replacement is giving me no impediment to pay a visit now and then, to go about my household chores and my shopping necessities, or to go to a concert or to see my friends whenever possible.