Wisconsin Woman Water-Skis Again After Shattering Ankle

When Kimberly Van Sistine's ski didn't release during a sunset ride on a Wisconsin lake last July, the force spun her entire leg and shattered her ankle so severely her foot barely stayed attached.

The Neenah resident had been celebrating her birthday weekend with her husband and four daughters at their annual cabin getaway near Waupaca. The injury was catastrophic: dislocated ankle, multiple fractures including the critical talus bone, and shredded tendons and ligaments throughout the joint.

"The first thing I asked Dr. Kozanek was, 'Can I ski again?'" Kimberly says. Dr. Michal Kozanek, the orthopedic surgeon on call at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center that evening, gave her the answer she desperately needed: yes.

But first came surgery two days later, then months of grueling recovery. The first two weeks were the hardest. Simple tasks like getting dressed or cleaning the house felt impossible for someone who owned two businesses and loved staying active.

"There were a couple of times I just laid on the floor and cried because I thought, 'This is not who I am,'" she says. Her family, church community, and customers from her downtown store Urban Market rallied around her with cards, flowers, and encouragement.

Kimberly turned her fireplace mantel into what she calls a "shrine" of support, reading through the messages daily. Every time pain shot through her foot, her husband would ask if she was okay. Her answer became her mantra: "Yup, I'm healing!"

Sunny's Take

What makes Kimberly's story so moving isn't just her physical recovery. It's how she transformed the darkest moments into fuel for healing. When the woman who loves waterskiing, dancing ballet with her daughters, and running two businesses faced losing it all, she chose hope over despair.

Her devotion to physical therapy and relentlessly positive attitude proved as important as the skilled surgery. Dr. Kozanek credits both her commitment and her mindset for her remarkable progress.

Seven months after the accident, Kimberly walks without pain and looks forward to getting back on the water when summer returns to Wisconsin.