At 72, Diane is still saying yes. Yes to camping trips. Yes to hikes. Yes to helping with her 12 grandchildren. Yes, even, to capture the flag on an all-girls trip to Galveston, TX. “My team won,” Diane said. “I wouldn’t have been able to do that before.”
A few years earlier, Diane was having trouble simply walking the way she used to. After years of working in insurance, she was used to taking daily walks during lunch. But over time, those walks became harder. She could not go as far. She felt herself leaning forward. Her body felt tired from trying to stay upright. “I was starting to hunch over,” Diane said.
At first, she did not know what was wrong. Her primary care doctor did not have a clear answer, and Diane had been referred to another orthopedic surgeon. But something did not feel right. Her daughter encouraged her to research carefully before making such a big decision.
That search led Diane to Presley Swann, MD, of HCA HealthONE Knee and Hip. From the first visit, Diane felt she had found the right surgeon. Dr. Swann listened, evaluated her carefully and quickly identified what others had not. Her hips were severely damaged, and one hip had fused to her pelvis. If she waited too long, Diane said Dr. Swann told her she could eventually end up in a wheelchair. “He was the only one that figured this out,” Diane said. “He knew right away what was wrong.”
In March 2019, Dr. Swann replaced both of Diane’s hips. While Diane did not realize at the time that replacing both hips at once was not common for everyone, she trusted his recommendation. For her, it meant one surgery, one recovery and a chance to move forward.
Diane took recovery seriously. She used the ice machine Dr. Swann ordered, followed his instructions and completed physical therapy. She started with a walker, then progressed to a cane, walking outside near her daughter’s condo in Parker, even in the snow. The results were life-changing. “After he did both hips, I could stand up straight and I didn’t have any pain,” Diane said. “I walked straight.”
She even gained back height she had lost from being hunched over. “I’m taller now,” she said with a laugh.
Years later, Diane returned to Dr. Swann for another joint replacement. In January 2025, he replaced her left knee, which had begun turning inward and made stairs difficult. This time, the procedure was outpatient. After surgery, Diane woke up to Dr. Swann shaking her hand. Before she could go home, she had to get up and walk.
“That one was really quick,” Diane said. Again, Diane followed the plan. She completed in-home physical therapy, then continued with outpatient therapy. And again, she was surprised by how well she felt. “My knee is as straight as can be. I can walk fine,” Diane said. “No pain for any of it, and that was the biggest thing.”
With four daughters and 12 grandchildren, ages 5 to 26, Diane stays busy in all the best ways. Around her family, “Grandma Di” is often on call for babysitting, helping out and saying yes to the next adventure.
For Dr. Swann, Diane’s outcome reflects why he chose to specialize in joint replacement. “Diane’s story is why I went into orthopedic surgery, particularly joint replacement from a fellowship-trained background,” Dr. Swann said. “When properly done, these surgeries are life-changing. It warms my heart that she can participate in an active lifestyle with her 12 grandchildren.”
He said successful outcomes require a whole team approach, with the patient playing one of the most important roles. “The fact that Diane is still taking all-girls trips and playing capture the flag speaks to her tenacity and zest for life,” Dr. Swann said. “To be a part of that is such an honor.”
For Diane, surgery gave her more than straighter joints. It gave her the ability to keep showing up for the people and moments she loves. “I can’t catch the grandkids anymore,” she said, “but I can play with them.”
When Diane talks to others considering hip or knee replacement, especially those who worry they may be too old for surgery, her advice is simple. “Don’t be afraid to get it done,” she said. “Choose Dr. Swann. He’s trustworthy. You can be confident that he will do the best job possible.”
Diane also remembers the support she received beyond the operating room. She said Dr. Swann’s team, including Caleb, helped her feel cared for at follow-up visits and took time to make sure she was doing well. “I tell everybody about him,” Diane said. “I’m very proud that I chose to go with Dr. Swann.”