Al Walton

The reason for my TKA (Total Knee Arthroplasty) dates back to 1960. I was 13 years old. My brother, Davis,  and I were riding home from the Frost Top Root Beer place after completing my paper route. We were riding a motor scooter. He was on the back. We were crossing an intersection 3 blocks from home when a 16 year old girl made a left hand turn and hit us. He was thrown clear and suffered a bad break above one ankle.


I suffered multiple compound, complex fractures above and below the left knee and a fracture to the right knee joint. The left leg healed fine. Over time the right knee became more arthritic and eventually wore away all cartilage at the knee joint. The knee has always been a bother but was helpful in 1969 when I was number 9 in the draft lottery  and Uncle Sam wanted to send me on an all expense paid vacation to Southeast Asia. After being invited to the Army induction center in Jackson, MS, the doctors determined that the bad knee made me unfit for combat and I received a 1-Y classification which some years later was adjusted to 4-F. 


I feel blessed to have been able to function with the knee for 56 years and am looking forward to the next chapter of my life and being able to walk pain free. Thank you for checking on me.