Therapist: ‘I literally ground to a halt’
A Leeside therapist and tai chi instructor in need of a double hip replacement has chosen some interesting names for her new installments.
Wanting something feisty and full of “girl power”, Michelle Gupta has nicknamed her new hips Thelma and Louise, honouring the much loved characters from the famous 1991 movie.
Michelle, who turned 50 last month, was diagnosed with osteoarthritis four years ago.
Having previously been able to manage the condition through swimming and other physical activities, Michelle says the arrival of Covid-19 and the lockdown has seen her symptoms increase dramatically.
“It can't be coincidence that my situation rapidly declined in the last six months. I quite literally ground to a halt. Nothing was working, I couldn't walk for more than ten minutes. I could barely climb the stairs,” Michelle told the Cork Independent.
Michelle, who is originally from London, is currently in Belfast recovering from her first surgery which saw Thelma (the right hip) successfully installed.
Thelma will be joined by Louise in March and Michelle hopes to be back up and running by the summer.
In an effort to raise funds for the expensive procedures, Michelle set up a GoFundMe campaign which is now less than €200 away from its goal of €6,250.
Michelle has pledged ten per cent of all funds raised to two cancer charities close to her heart; Cork Cancer Care Centre and Cancer Hair Care UK.
Michelle herself has been behind a number of fundraising and charity projects including giving free physical therapies to the users of the Cork Cancer Care Centre and raising money for Cork Penny Dinners.
“If I'm minding myself, then I'm much more capable of minding others; it's a practice what you preach sort of thing. You shouldn't be last on your own list,” she said.
Michelle said that arthritis is not as uncommon for someone her age as many might think and urged anyone with symptoms to get checked and not to put off the surgery.
Michelle said: “It's scary stuff, but you get to the point where you just want your life back.”
When back to full health and mobility, Michelle said she “won’t become a mountain climber” but will enjoy getting back to the things she loves.
“It’s the things that you used to love but can't say yes to anymore. I just want to go for a really good dance, I just want to shake it. It might sound cheesy but it's true,” she said.
To donate and help Michelle to reach her goal of €6,250, visit gofundme.com and search Michelle's Hip-Crowd & Cancer Charity Fund.
All donations of €25 or more will receive a reversible, washable cotton face-mask hand-made by Michelle.