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

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

At hockey on the couch

‘I am 22 and in the first year of my bachelor's degree in Nursing. That is tough, but a lot of fun. I like to go out and to festivals, with girlfriends or my boyfriend. Until I was 17 I played field hockey enthusiastically. After that I still went to hockey for a while, but sat on the couch because of the injury. Since the transplantation, playing hockey is not wise. That sucks, but I won't take that risk. I do work out at the gym. A lot less fun, but necessary.’

To the doctor after all

‘It happened in 2020. During hockey practice I felt a sharp pain. Afterwards I hobbled across the field a bit and my girlfriend shouted: run on! But that didn't work. My knee became swollen and red, so I went to chill on the sidelines. I never quickly think anything is seriously wrong, so I just cycled home. It went okay with paracetamol. After a week my mother said: you should go to the doctor after all. They immediately referred me to the hospital. The MRI showed that my meniscus was torn and I had to be operated on with priority. When he mentioned a date, I still said lightheartedly: let's see if that works. I finished the practical week of hotel school, which was going on at the time, in heels, as was mandatory. 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 had a lot of pain. With physical therapy it got better, but later I got 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, they removed it. After that I had to spend 3 hours every day in a device that moved my leg. Terrible. This was during corona. Afterward 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 ended up in a clinic where they suggested a meniscus transplantation. 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 did find that difficult, receiving something from someone who died young. I was allowed to think about it and discussed it with many people. The pain made the final decision.’

'It had been a few years by then and things weren't getting better. After waiting half a year for a match, the transplantation followed. Afterward I got a long straight splint. I needed a gap year to rehabilitate. At first I couldn't move my leg myself when I had to exercise, my mother did that.’

Good care

‘Aside from 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. Girlfriends and family members often took me out on trips in the wheelchair and I was happy with the nice people around me.’

'My life is certainly different now than before the injury. I missed playing hockey immensely, but by now my girlfriends have stopped, so it doesn't matter anymore. And unlike in the beginning, I now rarely think about having a donated meniscus. The pain is not 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.’