Pao-erful and Powerful

This Hopeful Hippie is so excited to introduce you to Powerful aka Kara. 

For those of you in the “know” you realize that I don’t have a typo or a spelling error.  Kara is powerful and pao-erful.  PAO stands for Periacetabular Osteotomy.  It is a whole acronym that equals a whole lot of pain, but more importantly can change your life. This acronym has also been the champion of resilience and hope for many. 

Wow, it’s clear that Kara is incredibly powerful! She was a high school athlete, excelling in soccer, cross country, and track. Her passion for running led her to complete a half-marathon and set her sights on the thrilling challenge of a full marathon. But on her journey to conquer those 26.2 miles, she encountered a small setback.

Undeterred, Kara sought the expertise of several doctors who diagnosed her pain as an "overuse" injury. Like many, she tried cortisone shots, but they didn’t quite do the trick. Despite being told she had bilateral torn labrums, Kara tackled the issue with unwavering determination. She found the right specialist—take note and follow her lead! She connected with an orthopedic surgeon renowned as a hip preservationist. This incredible specialist delivered some tough news: hip dysplasia. But Kara’s story is one of resilience and inspiration!

Get ready to dive into the world of hip dysplasia! Simply put, it's when the acetabulum (the cup) of the hip doesn't quite cover or support the femoral head (the ball) enough, leading to a whole lot of joint instability and, yes, plenty of pain.

Kara's journey has been one of immense challenge and transformation. She felt like she lost so much, especially grieving the loss of her running, which she described as utterly devastating. And then, at the young age of 30, being told she needed both hips reconstructed was beyond overwhelming. The surgeries? They were a true test of endurance, complete with massive screws in her pelvis!

And then, realizing she had to rely on a husband and a mother when all she wanted was to run like the wind. Beyond frustrating. But she had an "aha" moment! She discovered that her body could still achieve amazing things. She exclaims, “I realized what it had endured and carried me through, and that shift in perspective has been truly beautiful.”

This lightbulb moment also ignited a new path for her, leading to her own little business and advocacy work. Her proudest achievement? “Turning this traumatic experience into something meaningful, building connections with others through social media, and creating empowering apparel for hip surgery warriors with my Etsy shop, Happy Hips Co. It’s become a love letter to the strength of this community, and I’ve met incredible people I never would have known otherwise!”

She is equally proud of her consistency, her stick to it ness, and the sharing of her story and journey with the goal of helping others through this life-changing diagnosis.

Powerful is incredibly passionate about the transformative power of a positive mindset! Kara has witnessed its impact firsthand in her life and in a friend's. Embracing positivity isn't always a walk in the park—it's as challenging as undergoing surgeries. Kara, also known as Powerful, shared an inspiring story: "Someone very dear to me discovered her cancer had aggressively returned in April 2025. Several doctors predicted she had only months to live. But she refused to accept that fate. Her unwavering strength, positivity, and determination completely changed her perspective, and by August, her scans revealed all her tumors had shrunk. She’s now considered stable!"

Her friend’s experience has deeply inspired [Kara]. It showed [her] just how much the mind can influence the body, and [she tries] to carry that lesson in [her] own healing."  This example along with seeing her therapist helped her reframe her thinking and helped add some lightness to her days.  Kara also believes in the power of writing to get those thoughts down on paper and out of her head something that this Hopeful Hippie also finds super helpful.

Mindfulness has been essential to Kara as well.   “It’s so easy to spiral into catastrophic thinking, wondering if you’ll ever feel “normal” again. Meditation has been a lifesaver for me. I love guided meditations on Insight Timer, but any kind of mindfulness practice can help.

Journaling has also been huge. Getting my thoughts out on paper clears space in my mind and gives me perspective. Looking back on old entries helps me see just how far I’ve come.”

Kara’s biggest lesson learned though has been to never take movement or her body for granted. She is not always focusing on the next 10 mile run or a visit to the gym but is enjoying the simpler things in life such as walking her dog.    She says, “every bit of movement feels like a gift, and I don’t take it for granted anymore.”

Just to strongly reiterate, Kara is powerful and unstoppable.  The lyrics of Unstoppable by Sia have become her anthem for her journey.  

Check out Kara's Etsy shop!

Discover your own anthem, your own mantra, your own hope to become powerful, unstoppable, and full of hope!