New Hip, New Horizons

Kathlyn Gray is logging miles and memories after her hip replacement

Every day, Kathlyn Gray hits the pavement in Port Royal for a two-and-a-half-mile walk.

There’s always something to see – neighbors walking their dogs, the quiet coastal downtown and, of course, the exciting residents of the Cypress Wetlands. Alligators, roseate spoonbills, ducks and turtles regularly find their way into the retired teacher’s camera roll.

But on one walk in August 2025, her right hip gave out.

To get moving again, Kathlyn knew she’d need the joint replaced, and she turned to one of the newest faces on the Beaufort Memorial orthopedic team to do it.

This Hip is ‘Bananas’

Kathlyn’s hip troubles began years earlier, leading to a left hip replacement at Beaufort Memorial in 2018. She hoped that would be her last joint surgery.

Other issues emerged, however, including a troublesome shoulder. She had even scheduled shoulder surgery when her right hip suddenly took priority.

“Two weeks before my shoulder surgery, I was on my typical walk, and my right hip went bananas – I felt like it had collapsed!” Kathlyn remembered. “I thought, ‘I can’t have shoulder surgery if I can’t walk on my hip! How am I going to take care of myself?’”

She needed a new hip – and fast.

Making the Right Choice

Kathlyn had heard about a surgeon at Beaufort Memorial Orthopaedic Specialists who specialized in sports medicine.

Her primary care provider, Dr. Andrea Hucks at Beaufort Memorial Primary Care, had spoken highly of Dr. Cory Messerschmidt, so Kathlyn scheduled a visit.

“I really liked that he had a sports medicine background,” she said, and she was particularly impressed with his fellowship training at Emory University and experience working alongside the Atlanta Falcons.

Just as important? She liked him.

She got an appointment quickly and underwent surgery in September 2025, less than a month later.

‘Phenomenal’ Care

Having been through one hip surgery before, Kathlyn knew what to expect, but Dr. Messerschmidt still stood out for his individualized, knowledgeable approach.

Human connection is what drew the surgeon to medicine, and he connected with Kathlyn’s energy and positivity.

“Medicine isn’t just about diagnosing and treating disease – it’s about understanding people, listening closely and being present,” he said. “Kathlyn is very active, and I wanted to get her back on her feet as quickly as possible. She asked lots of questions, and I was able to connect with her goals and expectations, which helped us tailor a care plan that truly fit her lifestyle.”

Kathlyn was also struck by how warm and personable the surgeon was – plus, a straight shooter with a dry sense of humor.

“He speaks to you in a collegial manner – I don’t feel like I’m talking to a ‘highfalutin’ doctor,” she described. “He just has a different way of relating to his patients, and I was very, very grateful.”

What stayed with Kathlyn most during her care happened at her follow-up appointment, the first time she was able to see her incision since the procedure. “I was stunned – there was no swelling or bruising at all,” she recalled. “I didn’t even know that was possible.”

When Dr. Messerschmidt slowly removed her bandage at that appointment, he summed it up in one word: “Phenomenal.”

“And I don’t know if he was talking about the incision in general, or my healing, or his work,” Kathlyn laughed, “but I loved his attitude and enthusiasm.”

After her procedure, she began physical therapy just a few streets from her Port Royal home. She went twice a week for three weeks, and she was done. She was ready to get moving again.

Back in Action

With both hips replaced and her shoulder recovery nearly complete, Kathlyn quickly returned to the life and retirement she loves – piano lessons, friends, family and volunteering with her church and the Good Neighbor Medical Clinic.

She’s also an avid traveler. Since her surgery, she has journeyed to exciting destinations like London in January 2026 and Hawaii just a couple months later.

Her summer 2026 was booked up with ambitious travel plans, and looking ahead, she’s considering a safari trip in Africa for July 2027 – her third one, by the way.

When she’s staying put in Port Royal, she still takes her daily three-mile walks through town, enjoying the sights and sounds of the stunning Lowcountry place she calls home – with a new hip and no more pain.

Have pain in your hip? Request an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon at Beaufort Memorial who can get to the root of your pain and offer a solution.