Stronger Together: How One Mother-Daughter Duo Found Lasting Pain Relief

When Karie Labelle first brought her teenage daughter, Gabriella, to Rockhill Orthopaedic Specialists, she never expected the visit would eventually lead to a life-changing surgery of her own. 

When Gabriella was 16, she began experiencing persistent hip pain. With no clear cause and no relief, Karie scheduled an appointment with Megan N. Mayer, MD, at Rockhill Orthopaedic Specialists to get to the bottom of it. 

With more than 17 board-certified and board-eligible orthopedic surgeons and physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians on staff, Rockhill Orthopaedic Specialists is Kansas City’s leading provider of orthopedic care, including sports medicine, total joint replacement, and physical medicine.  

Dr. Mayer performed a hip arthroscopy, a minimally invasive procedure in which a surgeon makes a small incision around the joint and inserts a camera to diagnose potential issues. She identified a tear in Gabriella’s labrum, or the cartilage surrounding the joint socket, that would require hip repair surgery. It was a daunting diagnosis for a 16-year-old with no surgical history, but Karie knew there was no one better to take care of her daughter than Dr. Mayer. 

“Dr. Mayer has the most wonderful personality,” Karie says. “She knew Gabriella was the patient—not me. She put Gabriella at the center of all our conversations, answering all her questions and making sure she was comfortable.”

Gabriella had the surgery in May 2023 and was recovering smoothly until a few months later when her pain returned. She went back to Rockhill and discovered her labrum had torn once again and would require another surgery. Despite the unexpected setback, Karie and Gabriella remained optimistic thanks to Dr. Mayer’s detailed care. 

“Gabriella was a little anxious about a second surgery,” Karie says. “But Dr. Mayer made her feel so relaxed and turned the whole thing into a pleasant experience. Not only does she do wonderful work, but also her bedside manner is amazing.” 

By early 2024, Gabriella was back on her feet and living her teenage years pain-free. Inspired by her daughter’s courage and resilience, Karie felt it was time she addressed her own hip pain.

“I had been dealing with hip pain for five years, but I chose to ignore it,” Karie says. “I pushed it down and kept saying I would deal with it someday. But watching Gabriella go through it—I was inspired to get over my fears and make the appointment.” 

Karie reached back out to Dr. Mayer, who listened to her concerns and referred her to Michael D. Hellman, MD. Dr. Hellman found arthritis, spurs, and nearly no cartilage in her hip joint. Dr. Hellman recommended hip replacement surgery to get Karie back to her life, pain-free. She agreed to the surgery, and to her surprise, was walking the very same night with a manageable pain level and newfound sense of relief. Just a few months later, Karie was doing more than walking—she was honeymooning in Greece. 

“Before that surgery, I never would have been able to go on that vacation,” Karie says. “We did so much walking and climbing, and I’m so grateful that I was able to experience it without pain.” 

Now, Karie is back to doing all the things she loves with immense gratitude for the daughter who inspired her and the team that cared for her. 

“For years, I put my pain on the back burner,” Karie says. “That’s what you do as a mom—you focus on your child. But watching Gabriella go through this and come out stronger made me realize that I deserved that same care, too. I certainly hope I never have a reason to go back to Rockhill Orthopaedic Specialists, but I absolutely would.” 

Rockhill Orthopaedic Specialists has delivered high-quality orthopedic care to the Kansas City region for more than 70 years. Rockhill is affiliated with Saint Luke’s East Hospital and includes 17 board-certified and board-eligible orthopedic surgeons and physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians with a combined 200 years of experience treating a full range of conditions.