‘My friends were out partying, I was sitting on the couch’

Nursing student Milou suffered a knee injury at 17. After a few surgeries and long rehabilitation without results, a solution appeared: a donated meniscus. She had no idea this existed. Now she is very happy with her recovered knee.

On the sidelines at hockey

‘I am 22 and in my first year of a nursing degree. It’s tough, but a lot of fun. I like going out and to festivals, with friends or my boyfriend. Until I was 17, I played hockey fanatically. After that, I still went to hockey for a while, but I sat on the sidelines because of the injury. Since the transplant, playing hockey isn't wise. That’s a shame, but I’m not taking that risk. I do train at the gym. Much less fun, but necessary.’

Going to the doctor after all

‘It happened in 2020. During hockey practice, I felt a sharp pain. Afterward, I hobbled around the field a bit and my friend shouted: just keep running! But I couldn't. My knee became swollen and red, so I went to chill on the sidelines. I never quickly think something is serious, so I just cycled home. It was okay with paracetamol. After a week, my mother said: you really should go to the doctor. They referred me to the hospital immediately. The MRI showed that my meniscus was torn and I had to be operated on with priority. When he mentioned a date, I said casually: let me see if that works. I finished the practical week of hotel school, which was happening at the time, in heels, as was required. I thought it would be resolved quickly.’

Half a year in a wheelchair

‘During the surgery, it turned out to be much more serious. There was a lot of damage to the cartilage. They drilled holes in it, hoping it would grow back. After the surgery, I woke up with a brace that had to keep my knee at an angle. I was in a lot of pain. With physical therapy, it got better, but later I was in a lot of pain again. Another MRI followed. The holes hadn't done anything and the stitches had come loose. I also had almost no muscle tissue left. In 2021, I was operated on again. There was almost nothing left of the meniscus, so they removed it. After that, I had to spend 3 hours every day in a machine that moved my leg. Terrible. This was during COVID. After that, I spent half a year in a wheelchair. When I had learned to walk again, I was no longer dependent on my mother having to take me everywhere.’

Transplantation of the meniscus

‘The pain persisted. I was referred a few times, and eventually, I ended up in a clinic where they suggested a meniscus transplant. I didn't know that was possible. The doctor explained it well. A meniscus is a kind of cushion that protects your cartilage against wear and tear. They did have to find a good match: it had to be from someone who had died young. I found that difficult, receiving something from someone who died young. I was allowed to think about it and discussed it with many people. The pain was the deciding factor.’

'It was 2023 by then and things weren't getting better. After half a year of waiting for a match, the transplant followed in October of that year, when I had finished hotel school and was on a gap year. Afterward, I got a long, straight splint. I needed the entire gap year to rehabilitate. At first, I couldn't move my leg myself when I had to do exercises; my mother did that.’

Good care

‘Besides the physical limitation, things were also going less well socially. My friends continued partying, while I was often sitting on the couch. Physical therapy three times a week also took up a lot of time. There were also many positive sides. Friends and family members often took me out in the wheelchair and I was happy with the lovely people around me.’

'My life is different now than before the injury. I missed hockey enormously, but by now my friends have quit, so it doesn't matter anymore. And unlike in the beginning, I rarely think about the fact that I have a donated meniscus now. The pain isn't completely gone, but I can go out again, cycle, row, and work; I have a side job as a barista. And I am studying Nursing, because I noticed in the hospital how important it is to receive good care. I thought: that suits me.’