Patient Stories

Patients with ACL injuries, knee arthritis, and other knee injuries and conditions are getting back to their lives with the help of Shelbourne Knee Center. Here are a few of their stories.

All-Star Patient Beats Two Ligament Tears

Landen

When Azzi Fudd, the top girls’ basketball college prospect in the country needed ACL surgery, she turned to Shelbourne Knee Center. Azzi’s story became an ESPN cover article, and it’s easy to see why.

Playing in the 2019 national 3-on-3 tournament in Colorado Springs, Azzi, a 5-foot-11 guard, tore both her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and her medial…

Revision ACL Surgery Lets One Young Man Return to Active Life

Landen

Jonathan Fernandes had never heard of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) until he tore his while practicing Jigo Tensin Ryu Jujutsu in September 2018. The 32-year-old mathematician at the University of Maryland is a 2nd degree black belt in this martial art. He’s also an avid Argentine tango dancer, runner, swimmer, and bicyclist…

Grit and Expert Care Help Female Wrestler Return to Sport

Landen

Ten months after tearing her right anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and her meniscus, wrestler Sierra Pienkowski competed in the Indiana High School Girls Wrestling State Finals. She came in seventh in her weight class. The next month, Sierra took first place in the Indiana Frosh-Soph State Wrestling Championships.

The grit that enabled Sierra to participate in a mostly…

Case Study: Basketball Player and Family Drive 10 Hours for Best ACL Care

Landen

Claire Neff grew up with a ball in her hand, not a Barbie doll. Surrounded by three older sisters who all played basketball, the 17-year-old from Bel Air, Maryland started playing basketball at age 5.

As a player for Maryvale Prep, Claire scored 1,000 points. An article on the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland website called her a “junior…