After two failed joint surgeries, my third surgery - this time with Dr. Leavitt - returned me to the dance floor with a fully functional foot

By Linda Ferguson

For me, dancing is for fun and recreation. I started belly dancing six years ago, and stopped two years ago when the joint pain in my foot became excruciating.

Next came two unsuccessful surgeries by other doctors to remove pain in the first MTP joint of my right foot. The first surgery, in September, 2005, was a simple removal of bone spurs that failed to cure the pain. The second, in August, 2006, involved removal of the joint itself and implantation of a Silastic substitute. The silastic implant which was supposed to keep me balanced and pivoting for another twenty years, slipped out of the bone after only a few weeks. I turned to Surgeon #3, a reputable Harvard surgeon, but he canceled the replacement surgery at the last minute, deeming it and me too risky. No amount of cajoling and reassuring would persuade him to install the cobalt, chromium and titanium replacement. I rejected his offer to fuse the joint and began calling every hospital in Boston to find a foot surgeon who would take me on.

In the middle of my search a friend of mine directed me to an unusual web site for a podiatrist named Dr. Ken Leavitt. After reading the testimonials to his skill and to his humanitarian work in Lithuania, I called him. Not only did he speak to me himself, he suggested that I hop in the car and drive to his office that afternoon, certainly unusual in the world of Boston teaching hospitals that seem to be burdened with bureaucracy and protocol. It was after five o'clock when I found myself sitting in Dr. Leavitt's waiting room staring at a RELAX sign. Relax? I'm a dancer.

True to his word, Dr. Leavitt, Ken as he introduced himself, was waiting, full of placid optimism and good humor. Definitely relaxed. He assured me that he would reconstruct my toe joint with the help of some metal and a bit of cement and that I would once again enjoy a fully functional foot.

The following week, April 27, 2007, I was treated to a vision of Dr. Leavitt dancing-or twitching as he calls it--to the tune of country western music in the operating room. It may not have been tango, but he's leaving that to me. His only caveat? Don't ruin my work!

Initially, he told me that I wouldn't be dancing ever again, but when he realized I was only dancing socially, he gave me his blessing. After a month I was taking private classes again.

I've been dancing for a few months now, albeit in red dance sneakers not high heels, and will be performing three Latin dances at a local dance party in November. I am very grateful to Ken Leavitt.

   Linda Ferguson
    LFFerguson@aol.com