Meet
Colette Cipriano
Colette's journey began at age 12. She, a three season athlete, started to notice a sharp feeling in her right hip that often restricted her from her sports practices. After a series of misdiagnoses, years of incorrect and painful therapy, and finally a failed hip surgery, she finally discovered her proper diagnosis: Congenital Hip in the rare adolescent form.
On May 29, 2020, Colette got her first PAO surgery at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. The Periacetabular Osteotomy surgery allows for the pelvis to be surgically cut, repositioned, and held together with surgical screws as bone regrows.
In June of 2021, after a second PAO and two additional implant removal surgeries, Colette had the idea to turn her own screws into jewelry. With each set of screws only lasting four months in her body, she knew she wanted to wear them externally to honor the arduous process she endured and show her strength.
