Pushes boundaries so all of our lives might expand.

My only encounter with ageism occurred after I injured my knee skiing in 2011 at the age of 58. This was my first major injury in 50 years of skiing (if one does not count the pinched nerve from a “head plant” that ended my 1996 ski season). I was examined by a 40-something male physician assistant who works in the premier orthopedic group in Spokane. After an MRI, he diagnosed a partial ACL ligament injury and a meniscus tear. He told me they “do not usually do surgery on people your age for this injury." I was astonished and told him I was determined to return to the slopes. He arranged for a knee brace, physical therapy to improve my quadriceps strength and said I could continue skiing if I stayed on the groomed runs. I arranged for a second opinion with an orthopedic surgeon in Seattle. That surgeon explained that he would gladly do the surgical repair on me, despite my age, if I could not get surgery in Spokane. In the intervening weeks, I skied the groomed runs until my optimism and poor discipline lured me into fresh powder at Red Mountain. I extended the tear, and I was done for the season. I had successful surgery that summer with a knee surgeon who had me back skiing by the winter of 2012. His PA did not mention my age again. I think that he initially discounted my level of devotion to the sport. I love to ski and continue to ski powder, moguls, steeps, and gullies at age 70. I know a time will come when my joints will keep me on the groomed runs but not yet. Living every day with gratitude and joy!