Due to severe juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, Claire has had many orthopaedic surgeries, but she continues to live independently. Claire, now in her 75th year, has lived with pain since she was nine years old. Because of her arthritis most of her feet, her wrists as well as her ankles have spontaneously fused, all since her early teens.
In 2004, Claire had her left knee replaced in January and her right knee in July. Due to her bad knee, strain was put on the left hip, which was replaced in June 2005. Through all this Claire continues to live on her own. Claire’s most recent orthopaedic surgeries, knee and hip replacements, were performed by Dr. Marc Isler, at the Maisonneuve Rosemont Hospital in Montreal. “I wouldn’t be walking if I hadn’t had surgery,” says Claire.
Due to an injury, Claire had a complete shoulder replacement in June 2006. This procedure was performed by Dr. David Blanchette at Maisonneuve Rosemont Hospital. Despite the limitations caused by this injury Claire still lives on her own.