3 knee replacement surgeries in 3 years on the same knee! They even took the knee joint out and left it out for a month! Did I get your attention? Knee replacement surgery is quite common today. Knee replacements help many people and are a very successful operation. I am the exception to the rule! I broke the meniscus in my left knee when I was 18 years old, and three years later I had surgery to remove the meniscus from the inside of my left knee.

About 30 years later, the knee joint was reduced to bone on bone and was painful. I went to three doctors and they all said that the knee joint needed to be replaced. The surgery was done and after a year my knee was not working well. He was on crutches and was in a lot of pain. I had a second surgery. The doctor said that my body had formed about three-quarters of an inch of scar tissue. He said he thought that’s why the first knee didn’t work well.

Two years later, I was back on crutches. A third replacement was scheduled after many tests. The doctors and I devised a plan that we thought would work. They removed the knee joint and left it outside for a month. I was prescribed antibiotics through an IV. After a month I had surgery and the new joint was placed. Everything seemed to go well. After about two months it started to go downhill. I have inflammation in the tissue around the joint. After further research and testing, we came to the conclusion that I am allergic to the metal it is made of.

The point of this whole story is that I have never given up on life. As an example, last summer we went to Pocono Raceway in Pennsylvania and took a NASCAR Race Car ride. It was exciting going over 170 mph. We just returned from a whitewater rafting trip on the South Fork of the Payette River in Idaho. My wife and I love to ride roller coasters and have been to numerous theme parks in recent years. I still have fun in life and do a lot of exciting things with my lovely wife.

My friends always ask me why I am always so happy and have a positive attitude. What I have to remember is that I don’t have to like what’s going on in my life, but I don’t have to feel miserable about it. Misery is optional! It’s your choice. You can choose to be happy or miserable. I choose to be happy! Life is great!

This goes for anything in my life. In this recessionary economy, I have to remember that I don’t have to like what’s going on in my life, but I don’t have to feel miserable. What’s your choice?