Celebrating New Beginnings by Taking Control of her Health and Future

Amy Proffitt has never been one to slow down. At 49 years old, she is a dedicated mother, grandmother, full-time employee, and proud owner of a gift shop in Brooklyn, MI. A lifelong athlete, she thrived on staying active—but years of knee injuries, arthritis, and multiple surgeries made it harder and harder to maintain the quality of life she desired. Despite having the energy and mindset of someone much younger, her body simply couldn’t keep up.

“I felt like I had a young mind, but a body that wouldn’t cooperate,” Amy shared. “It got to the point where I couldn’t even shop for an hour without my knees swelling and the pain becoming unbearable.”

The activities Amy loved—bike rides, long walks, hiking, and working out—became too painful to enjoy. She found herself sitting on the sidelines, unable to fully participate in the life she had always embraced.

“My family is active, and I didn’t want to miss out on those moments. I knew I had so much more life to live, and I wasn’t willing to let pain dictate what I could or couldn’t do.”

The power of a positive mindset

Determined to take control of her future, Amy considered joint replacement surgery after conservative treatments were not helping her find relief. She approached surgery with a positive mindset and asked Henry Ford orthopedic surgeon Derek Semaan, MD, if she could have both knees replaced at the same time.

“Amy lives an incredibly active lifestyle, but unfortunately, her knees took a toll,” said Dr. Semaan. “Despite her young age, Amy developed end-stage osteoarthritis and had exhausted all non-surgical treatments. We eventually decided that knee replacement was the best option for her.“

“Joint replacement surgery enables patients to return to their favorite activities and significantly improve their quality of life. Beyond the technical aspects of the procedure, proper patient selection is crucial for achieving excellent surgical outcomes,” Dr. Semaan explains.

“I wanted to do this once and do it right. I told Dr. Semaan, ‘Let’s get both done so I can move forward and start living again,” Amy added.

Knowing the importance of preparation, Amy set herself up for success. She created a playlist for meditation and pain relief, prepared her home for recovery, and made sure her family—her support team—was ready to help.

“I focused on what would bring me joy in my recovery instead of worrying about what I’d be missing out on,” Amy expressed

“Undergoing simultaneous knee replacements is challenging for both the patient and the surgeon,” says Dr. Semaan. “While recovery from a single knee replacement typically takes around 6-8 weeks to achieve 70-80% of the expected outcome, bilateral knee replacements can take nearly twice as long. Success requires a dedicated patient who fully commits to the plan and actively engages in therapy to achieve the best possible results.”

Throughout the process, Amy credits her surgeon, joint camp nurse, and physical therapy team as being instrumental to her success.

“They provided so much information on what to expect, answered every question and concern I had, and showed me how to stretch and gain strength,” says Amy. “But more than that, they were my biggest cheerleaders. They encouraged me through every milestone, pushing me to keep going. They weren’t just my care team—they became my friends.

During her recovery, Amy remained committed to progress. Instead of dwelling on limitations, she focused on what she could do.

“I added chair yoga to my routine, increased my walking endurance on the treadmill, and stayed disciplined with my physical therapy—even at home. Every little step forward mattered.”

Pain free after a full recovery

Now, just four months after her bilateral knee replacement, Amy is finally feeling like herself again.

“I’m back in the gym working out with my daughter, going to concerts and sporting events, and most importantly, moving without constant pain,” says Amy. “I’m beyond grateful to get back to doing the things I love without pain.”

“Amy is the epitome of a model patient and proof of what is possible if you put in the hard work and follow the plan outlined by the entire joint replacement team at Henry Ford,” says Dr. Semaan.
With her active lifestyle restored, Amy is already making plans for future adventures.

“My grandma lived to be 100 years old, so I feel like I still have a good 50 years to live my life to the fullest. And thanks to my new knees, I know I’ll be able to do just that.”