Ellie Moore

Type of Donation:          tissue recipient

Age and Location:          Age 28 – Bow, NH

Donation Date:                5/2015

Sponsor:                              Honored by Community Tissue Services

ELLIE’S STORY

In April 2015, Ellie woke up and fell on the floor from pain in her right leg. She spent the day icing it, figuring she probably hurt it working out the day before. The following day, there was no improvement and her knee swelled to twice its normal size. Not being able to straighten her knee, she called off from work and immediately contacted her primary care provider.

Eventually, Ellie discovered that she had a condition called “osteochondritis dissecans.” Many questions came to mind, but the most important one brought her to tears: “I’m getting married in September. Please can I walk down the aisle? Will I have my surgery by then?”

In May, her doctor decided that Ellie would need surgery, which meant she had to be non-weight bearing until the surgery and six to eight weeks of non-weight bearing post-operatively. However, none of this could happen until a tissue donor was found for her knee. In mid-May, her doctor notified her that a fresh osteochondral allograft was available, and that the surgery was scheduled.

“To me, no amount of ‘thank you’s’ would ever sufficiently express my gratitude for not only helping me get ready for my wedding, but also returning to a normal life,” expressed Ellie. “Now, with renewed hope, I am over the surgery and on the road to recovery.”

Physical therapy, careful balancing and wedding planning got Ellie through the summer months. Each time she saw her orthopedic surgeon it was good news – everything was healing well. Just like many other girls out there, all her life she had imagined what her wedding would be like. In September, she would realize that dream walking down the aisle without crutches and dancing the night away.

“Today, I’m doing almost everything that I want – I can hike, walk, and climb and I am scampering after our new puppy. I’m still nervous about higher impact activity but I am working on building up strength and confidence to return to the active lifestyle I started in 2014, thanks to my tissue donor.”