Guided by instinct, healed by expertise — orthopedic care close to home

Ever since she was a little girl, Kaylee Goodspeed has been involved in cheerleading. However, as she grew older, she started developing issues with her knees that, if not cared for properly, could have caused problems in the future. With her mother’s advocacy and an expert team of Orthopedic surgeons at UHS, Kaylee is now cheering, tumbling and living a normal life once again.

When she was young, Kaylee’s mom, Jamie, noticed she was looking for an outlet to do tumbling. Jamie heard of a local gym that offered classes, she signed her daughter up for the sport and thus began a lifelong passion —and deep commitment—to competitive cheerleading.

“We had no idea what we were getting ourselves into,” explained Jamie. “Kaylee was only four years old at the time, and before we knew it, we were traveling all over – Boston, Baltimore, Connecticut and Rhode Island. She fell in love with the sport and her passion has only grown stronger since.”

From the very beginning, Kaylee was drawn to the sport, embracing not just the competition but also the invaluable life lessons it offers.

“It’s taught me a lot about patience,” said, Kaylee. “It's really all about knowing how to interact with your teammates and learning to apply corrections to your tumbling.”

A few years into her cheerleading, Kaylee began experiencing knee problems. Her left knee was dislocated, and doctors discovered that the tendons holding her kneecap in place were too loose. Determined to recover, Kaylee committed to a rehabilitation program to help overcome the initial injury. However, a few years later, Kaylee suffered another knee dislocation due to an accident. In 2021, she underwent her first knee surgery to help correct the issues.

In 2024, three years after Kaylee’s initial knee surgery, she and her mom decided it was time to explore options for preventing any additional issues with her right knee. Jamie began researching a type of procedure known as Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction, or MPFL. This surgery would repair the MPFL ligament that connects the kneecap to the femur, helping to stabilize the kneecap and prevent future dislocations.

“We wanted to have the surgery prior to it dislocating and it leading to more issues,” said Jamie. “Previous doctors had shared with us that her right knee was a ticking time bomb.”

After learning about the MPFL procedure, Jamie sought the expertise and experience of Orthopedic Surgeon Kristen Herbst, DO, a specialist in joint health and orthopedic surgery at UHS Orthopedics. Following Kaylee’s initial consultation with Dr. Herbst, both she and her mom felt confident that this was the right time to move forward with the surgery.

“I knew I needed to get it done and it was the right choice for me,” said Kaylee. “I also worried if something was going to go wrong or if I couldn’t get back to competing in a certain amount of time.”

After completing the initial surgery in May of 2024, Kaylee was fully involved in her rehabilitation process, meeting milestones and making progress faster than her provider team anticipated. Kaylee worked with UHS Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, crediting her trainer, Renee Marcyan, PT, DPT, with helping her achieve her goals and feeling stronger than she could have ever imagined.

“She was really kind and talked me through everything. She was also realistic about the timeline, what was going to happen, and when I was going to do it,” said Kaylee.

After initially starting therapy, Kaylee formed a strong bond with Renee, which made the process much easier for her. Through her exercises and routines, it was a personal connection between the two that went beyond rehabilitating her knee.

“Whenever I was with Renee she wouldn’t just focus on my knee, she would talk with me about life and other things outside of it,” said Kaylee. “She worked with me a lot and pushed me to my limits to make sure I was getting there on-time with my recovery.”

Recovering from a procedure as intense as MPFL surgery can often take six to twelve months. Initially, Dr. Herbst advised Kaylee that she would have to pause cheerleading for at least four months, possibly even longer, depending on her recovery. During her recovery and physical therapy, she was surpassing milestones ahead of anyone’s anticipated timelines.

“Dr. Herbst initially told us that she wouldn’t be cleared for at least four months,” said Jamie. “It was about less than a month from surgery that she had her stabilizing brace taken off, and by eight weeks she had her full range of motion back.”

While not a typical timeline for other patients, Kaylee was back to tumbling and competing within three months of her surgery after getting clearance from Dr. Herbst. Both Jamie and Kaylee, credit much of her remarkable progress to the skilled team that guided her through surgery and rehabilitation.

“A lot of it had to do with Dr. Herbst’s skill as a surgeon,” explained Jamie. “It also was a testament to Renee’s skill. She was incredible. When she had to test her to come back for cheer, her right knee was much stronger and more stable.”

Nearly a year after her surgery, Kaylee is back to cheering and living a normal life, without worries about her knees. Kaylee stated, “I just want to keep doing my best and really see how far I can go.”

For her mom, watching Kaylee compete is much easier now knowing her health is stronger after everything she’s been through. While it isn’t easy for a parent to make decisions like this for her child, Jamie says she is grateful to the UHS team who helped her daughter move forward without the constant worry.

“I have much less anxiety now,” said Jamie. “Every time she tumbled, her knee would have to be taped and braced, but now I don’t even think about it anymore. It is a great change in the last five years.”

To learn more about UHS Orthopedics or Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, visit nyuhs.org.