Kathie Lee Gifford, 72, Describes Recovery From Hip Replacement and Other Procedures

Kathie Lee Gifford, 72, said she has regained the ability to run and play with her five grandchildren after undergoing a total hip replacement, cataract surgery and treatment for a broken arm in the past year. Business Insider reported that Gifford was initially misdiagnosed with a spinal issue and treated for nearly a year before doctors identified her hip as the source of pain.

Her post-operative doctor in Tennessee described the joint as one of the worst he had seen, consisting of arthritic ash and small bone spurs.

Gifford fractured her hip after the initial replacement and required additional surgery. She later broke another bone after falling on uneven pavement and broke her arm after rolling onto it while sleeping. She also underwent cataract surgery after noticing problems with depth perception.

"I couldn’t carry them, I couldn’t love on them, I couldn’t run and play with them," Gifford said of her grandchildren, all under 5 years old. " She added that the pain led her to say she wanted to die a few times, though she clarified she had no intention of harming herself. Gifford compared her successive injuries to Mr.

Potato Head, noting that one issue followed another. , or roughly one in five people, according to 2021 CDC estimates cited in the report. Gifford said she is now focused on physical therapy and stem cell therapy to regain mobility.