I'M NOT BACK TO 100%.
BUT I'M NOT DONE.

I was a Division I basketball player. Being an athlete wasn't just something I did. It was part of who I was.

During my sophomore year of college, I dislocated my ankle and broke my fibula. It took a year to recover, and I lost an entire year of eligibility.

During my senior year, I hyperextended my knee after stepping on another player's foot. I heard something, couldn't finish the game, and suspected a ligament injury that was never properly investigated.

Years later, playing rugby, I tore my ACL and injured my meniscus. And the frustrating part? It wasn't even a spectacular collision. I was changing direction by myself when I heard the pop.

I explored stem cell therapy, went through rehabilitation, and eventually had an ACL repair and meniscus repair. I worked my way back to running, only to experience another setback near the end of a 10-mile run. Another knee procedure followed.

I've spent years rebuilding, recovering, and learning that progress isn't always linear.

Read my firsthand account of treatment at Centeno-Schultz—including what improved, the stability that remained uncertain, and my historical personal expenses.

“Progress isn't always linear.”

Today, I'm playing recreational basketball and flag football again. But I'm not giving 100%. I'm closer to 80%, deliberately holding something back while I rebuild strength and confidence in my knee.

And I still want to play rugby again, run Leadville 100, and much more.

I'm not there yet. I want to trust my body before I return.

“I still want to play rugby again. I'm not there yet.”

Along the way, I've become increasingly interested in recovery science, regenerative medicine, peptides, strength, and longevity. That is only natural: I'm an RD, have a master's degree, and currently work in diabetes research. Not because I believe there's a miracle solution, but because I want to understand what might actually help us stay capable.

I'm still figuring things out. I'm still recovering. I'm still working toward the activities I love.

And that's why Outlast Blueprint exists.

Because the goal isn't simply to live longer. It's to do what you love for longer.

This is my personal experience, not medical advice or evidence that a treatment caused a particular outcome. Recovery is ongoing; this story does not imply medical clearance to return to rugby. Read our medical disclaimer.