Patient Story: Submitted by Mia

“I have had more injuries than I can count on my fingers. Four torn ACLs along with various torn menisci and MCLs, I have gone through a lot, both physically and mentally. Dr. Hartman has been my doctor since I was 13 years old and, 10 years later, he continues to be there for every difficult part of my basketball career. A lot of people, including my parents to a certain degree, told me I should stop playing basketball because the surgeries and physical therapy were too much for someone my age. But Dr. Hartman understood my passion for the sport and always gave me options to continue doing what I love. Bernadette, my physical therapist, was the hardest “coach” I have ever had, but I would not be back on the court without her. She was there to help me with my first steps back after surgery and also gave me the good news when I passed my back-to-sports test. It has been almost eight years since my first torn ACL and I am still playing EVERY day at the gym with my friends. If it was not for Dr. Hartman and all my physical therapists, I would not have grown into the person I have become today. I am thankful for everything they did because they gave me basketball back.”