It all started here...

I fell in just two seconds, yet, retrospectively, each millisecond decomposes into hours upon hours. 

Within the first 500 milliseconds, my kneecap dislocated, for the first time sliding far out of its 13-year-old home. 

In the next 500 milliseconds, the patella ruthlessly tore through my medial patellofemoral ligament, destroying anything in its path to escape.

Over the next 500 milliseconds, the patella functioned as a lumberjack, prompting a large piece of cartilage to fall into the endless river of my bloodstream. 

Through the duration of the last 500 milliseconds, my knee promptly swelled to the size of the mini basketball I once played with through adolescence. Finally, like the cartilage, I fell - into a slew of grass - where I would remain for mere minutes, until I was carried away by teammates.

Over the next week, I was blessed with a quick surgery and speedy physical therapy. Had I been without it, I would have lacked the ability to walk, weighed down by a knee with large quantities of excess blood. 

I soon recognized my luck. On average, surgeries such as mine are scheduled weeks later, yet the thought of enduring the pain for any longer was unbearable. 

Furthermore, the pain and accessible rehabilitation that I had was quintessential. Despite the everlasting pain I faced, I was placed in the best situation possible to recover, but it was obvious that the tens of thousands of dollars spent and immense time needed in order to return to normalcy were inaccessible to the vast majority of people. 

I say this not to gloat, but call for change. It is not a blessing that I can afford quick and quality healthcare, but a curse that anyone cannot. In the United States of America - the most privileged, free, and upstanding country in the world - healthcare should not be a privilege, but an unalienable right. Something needs to be done. 

If you agree in any sort, please be sure to stay updated with these blog posts. Follow the newsletter and stay updated for biweekly posts.

I’d be honored if you could donate to my cause, Krishya Kares, which aims to effect the aforementioned change. 

Until Next Time, 

Krish Korrapati