The Trip I Thought I Would Never Take

After talking with Amy Windham, she asked me to write the story of my trip to my favorite home in North Carolina, next to my own of course. I had visited the Biltmore House in Asheville three times and loved each visit. I imagined myself living there amid all the beauty and grandeur of that beautiful home. When I visited, only the first floor and basement of the house were open to the public. Wow, what beauty. Starting with the spiral staircase I wanted so badly to climb, I wondered just what is above that first floor. My imagination went wild and for twenty six years, I could only wonder about that beauty we could not see.

I have osteoarthritis and both my knees were completely gone. The doctor said my only option was replacement, I just had to make the decision if and when to have the surgery. With the help of the wonderful doctors at Carolina Regional Orthopedics and the great staff of Nash General Hospital, I was able to get those replacements. Never knowing my decision to have surgery would make such an impact on my life, the left knee was replaced in July 2007 and the right knee in May 2008. What a change. I had gone for years hurting so badly I could hardly move at times and thought I would always have to walk with the pain in my knees. I still have arthritis, but my new knees are absolutely wonderful and I would not change one thing.

Last fall we got a chance to take a bus trip with people from our church to Asheville and, you guessed it, The Biltmore House. The trip was in November and my husband gave me the trip for my birthday (November) and Christmas. He, our daughter and I went off to see the mansion I thought I would never see again. Since I went so long ago,the house has opened through the fourth floor. Yes, it was breathtaking for me. I walked the beautiful spiral staircase as far as I could go then up narrow steps to the fourth floor where the servants lived. We took a self guided evening tour that took hours. I walked the house over and my knees never hurt once. My husband walked each step with me and said he almost did not make it. I had no trouble making the tour and wanted to go again. The house was decorated for Christmas which was the most magnificent thing I had ever seen. As we started up the spiral staircase, I told my husband I could picture all the ladies who graced those beautiful stairs with their long graceful gowns. As we descended on the second floor on our way down the stairs, my husband asked if I needed his help. I said, "No thanks, I am envisioning myself in one of those graceful gowns, just let me do it". After walking all over the first through fourth floors, we walked down the narrow stairs through the basement. Wow what a kitchen, I could handle a pantry like that one. My husband said, "If I had not seen it, I would not believe you made that tour. "

Many thanks to Nash General Joint Center, doctors Robert Martin and Stephen Mould, and all the great staff that put up with me. I love each one and appreciate what they do to help people walk again. God bless them.

The one thing I really want to get across is this. If you have the problem with your knees as I did, go for it. Do not be afraid to step out and have that surgery. I have not,one minute, regretted having the surgery. My body may be in pain, but my new knees are wonderful and I would not change one thing.

Sandy Campbell
Kenly, North Carolina

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