About | And Mettle

TLDR: After years of back issues and radiating pain, I finally found answers. At 24-years-old, I was diagnosed with avascular necrosis and hip dysplasia. Within that same year, I received bilateral hip replacements.
This journey, though daunting, became a crash-course about how to navigate health insurance nuances, manage pain effectively, and balance life during a health crisis.
Throughout the experience, I longed for a resource to guide me. There were plenty of medical journals but I wanted tips on the real stuff. I wanted to hear from other patients.
So, And Mettle was born.

Hi there, I’m Courtney. I’m a 25-year-old coffee enthusiast, dog mama (x2), and communications professional. I enjoy painting, reading, and having concerts in my car.

After graduating from college in 2018, I moved to Alexandria, VA where I resided for two years. I spent my days as a normal girl in her twenties: barre classes, lunch with co-workers, happy hours, Bachelorette watch party nights, and dog parks.

Once the pandemic began in 2020, I found myself staying out in my parents rural community most of the year. Lockdown was much more enjoyable with fresh air and a fenced in yard for my dogs rather than my one bedroom apartment in the city. By November of that year, I decided to move back to my parents home with the intention of saving some money to purchase my own home as the pandemic continued.

This ended up being one of the biggest blessings. Just one month later, in December 2020, my crazy health journey ensued.

In the span of 6 months, I was diagnosed with multiple herniated and bulging discs to my back, bilateral hip dysplasia, avascular necrosis (AVN), and Raynaud syndrome.

Throughout the year I also battled fainting spells, wonky blood results, and nerve damage due to the curvature of my spine. After what felt like a million doctor appointments, my doctors determined that the best next step was to address my hips. It was clear to my medical team that the hip issues were causing the other health problems. I found the best surgeon in my area and had my first total hip replacement (right hip) in July. Three months later, I had my second total hip replacement (left hip).

This journey often felt intimidating and isolating. It was hard to find other people who have experienced these same conditions. I made a TikTok account to try to find people like me.

My goal of the account was to share my journey and connect with others who were going through a similar health crisis.

Before you ask – no, I didn’t go viral. 😉 I did, however, find a community. People were coming to my account to find answers. I received numerous questions, including:

How did you cope with the AVN and hip dysplasia pain?
What is surgery day really like?
How did your recovery go?
What supplies did you need after your hip replacements?
Do you have organization tips on how to manage your case?
Why can’t I figure out how to work with my insurance?

Once I started to receive this flood of questions, I realized others felt the way I did: I can easily find medical journals and provider op-eds but I can’t find many spaces online of authentic stories and tips from patients.

So, And Mettle was born.

This space isn’t just for people with titanium; it’s for people awaiting the unknown.

If your health crisis is just beginning, you’ll find ways to stay organized.
If you’re frustrated with your insurance, you’ll find guides to help you navigate it more efficiently.
If you feel like you’re in the midst of chaos, you’ll find stories to feel hopeful.
If you just feel broken, you’ll find solidarity.

It hasn’t been easy but I’ve found strength through my brokenness. You can too. Let’s be empowered by broken things.

You’ve got this.

We’ve got this.

Love, Courtney