A Promise That Crossed Borders
How a medical mission, a smart knee replacement and one surgeon's commitment changed a patient's life
When orthopedic surgeon Elliott Leitman, M.D. was preparing to join a medical mission trip to Trinidad with HANDS International, he expected to treat patients facing significant barriers to care – but the reality on the ground was even more difficult. Limited access to operating suites, specialized tools, staffing and post-operative care meant that there were patients who he could not treat during his trip. For patients who needed more extensive care it meant that their chronic pain would continue on far longer than it should.
Meeting Reinette
During the mission trip in July 2025, Dr. Leitman met Reinette, a woman whose knee pain had steadily taken away her mobility – and with it, the simple joys of everyday life. Like many patients, Reinette had traveled for hours to meet with Dr. Leitman at the clinic, hoping this visit might finally lead to relief.
Despite the overwhelming need, the clinic’s surgical suites were rudimentary, and the available equipment was not suitable to safely support complex orthopedic surgery. Dr. Leitman was faced with an impossible situation: having to tell patients who had waited and traveled so far that he couldn’t perform the surgeries they so desperately needed.
Reinette was one of them.
“I had traveled to meet with the surgeon because my knee pain had become too difficult and forced me to stop doing the things that I love,” said Reinette. “When he explained that they did not have the equipment needed to help, my heart sank. I knew it was a long shot that Dr. Leitman would be able to help me, but I had to try. I felt like I had reached the point where I just had to live with the pain.”
A Promise and a Leap of Faith
For Dr. Leitman, turning away patients was the hardest part of the mission. That’s when he made Reinette an extraordinary promise: “When I met Reinette I knew she needed my help and I wanted to help relieve her pain,” said Dr. Leitman. “I said to her, ‘If you get yourself to the United States and you can get a plan in place to stay here for the rehab I will perform your knee replacement surgery free of charge.’ The excitement on her face said it all.”
It was a generous offer, but also a daunting one. Traveling internationally for surgery required courage, support and trust, not to mention a good bit of time spent away from home for pre- and post-operative care and recovery.
Preparing for Her Life-Changing Surgery
In December, with the support of her nephew Christian, who lives in Boston, Reinette made the journey to Dr. Leitman’s practice in Delaware. After consultations and careful planning, they made the decision to use Persona IQ®, The Smart Knee® implant for her total knee replacement.
Persona IQ is the world’s first smart knee, designed to capture patient-specific gait and range-of-motion data directly from the implant itself. These insights are delivered through the mymobility® Care Management Platform, giving care teams and patients the ability to monitor recovery and personalize the total knee replacement experience—no matter where the patient is located.
“Because Reinette was returning home to Trinidad after her surgery, I needed confidence that we could continue to monitor her recovery in the weeks to follow,” said Dr. Leitman. “For this patient, the technology made her knee replacement a reality. The Smart Implant allows me to access how she’s progressing and make recommendations throughout her post-surgical recovery.”
The Journey to Recovery
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Following her knee replacement surgery, Reinette spent several weeks recovering in Boston with her nephew before returning home to Trinidad. Through the technology, Dr. Leitman has tracked her recovery remotely, reviewing gait patterns and range-of-motion data to ensure she stayed on track.
“I’m thankful that Reinette was able to take me up on my offer,” said Dr. Leitman. “Misson trips, like the one where I met Reinette help provide needed treatment options to patients that otherwise have limited options where they live. Our responsibility is to help patients regain their mobility and return to the lives they love. Quality care shouldn’t be limited by geography.”
Back to What Matters Most
Today, Reinette is dancing once again. She’s keeping up with her grandchildren. And, she’s moving forward, free from the pain that once held her back.
“Returning home after surgery felt like stepping into a new chapter,” explained Reinette. “I can’t thank Dr. Leitman enough for the impact his simple act of kindness has done for me and my family. I’m playing with my grandchildren again, going to the beach and best of all—dancing at carnival. Regaining my mobility has restored my freedom—and my happiness. Thank you to Dr. Leitman and the team at Zimmer Biomet for helping make this happen.”
Persona IQ: The objective kinematic data generated by the CSE with CHIRP System are not intended to support clinical decision-making and have not been shown to provide any clinical benefit.
Results are not necessarily typical, indicative, or representative of all recipient patients. Not all patients are candidates for this product and/or procedure. Results will vary due to health, weight, activity, and other variables. Zimmer Biomet does not practice medicine and the content of this site is intended for general public interest. The website and its contents do not constitute medical, legal, or any other type of professional advice. Only a medical professional can determine the treatment appropriate for your specific condition. Appropriate post-operative activities and restrictions will differ from patient to patient. Talk to your surgeon about whether joint replacement is right for you and the risks of the procedure, including the risk of implant wear, infection, loosening, breakage or failure, any of which could require additional surgery. To find a health care professional near you and learn more about the Persona IQ knee and the mymobility® remote care app, visit www.zimmerbiomet.com or call 877-366-KNEE.
All content herein is protected by copyright, trademarks, and other intellectual property rights, as applicable, owned by or licensed to Zimmer Biomet or its affiliates unless otherwise indicated, and must not be redistributed, duplicated, or disclosed, in whole or in part, without the express written consent of Zimmer Biomet. Patients must have Internet access and a text-capable mobile device or a compatible smartphone to use mymobility; not all features are available on the web-based version. Not all patients are candidates for the use of this product and surgeons should evaluate individually to determine which patients are appropriate for remote care. ©2026 Zimmer Biomet.
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