Stories That Move Us. Real stories of strength, recovery, and rediscovering movement.
Exercise is life-insurance.
I say this so often, and this week, I was reminded exactly why.
My friend and fellow Mermaid, Wendy, has just come through hip replacement surgery. Not just through it—she sailed through it.
And she credits one thing: the work she did in the water before surgery.
Better in, better out
When I was in the Netherlands in 2019 (a trip that ended up saving my life), I kept hearing a phrase in the Dutch medical system:
“Better in, better out.”
In other words, the stronger you are going into surgery, the better your recovery will be coming out of it.
At the time, it stuck with me. Now, watching Wendy’s experience, I understand it on a whole new level.
But so many people think of exercise as something you start after surgery.
Rehab. Physical therapy. Recovery. But what if we’ve got that backwards?
What Wendy understood—and what I’ve experienced myself—is this:
The real work starts before.
Pre-op movement:
- builds strength your body can draw on when you’re laid up
- creates muscle memory for the movements you’ll need later
- helps your body recognise patterns when it’s time to rebuild
It gives you a head start your future self will thank you for.
What carried me through
When I spent six weeks in an ICU in Amsterdam, my body was under more stress than I could have imagined. But it wasn’t starting from zero.
Years of water exercise had built strength that my body could use when I couldn’t move.
And when it was time to recover, that same foundation helped me come back.
Sure, it wasn’t a quick or an easy recovery, but I’m happy to say it was a full recovery. And I’m grateful every day for my movement routine for that.
Why water makes a difference
There’s something unique about moving in water:
- It supports you when your body can’t fully support itself.
- It strengthens you without overloading joints.
- It allows you to keep moving, even when movement feels limited.
- And maybe most importantly: It builds confidence.
Exercise is life insurance
We don’t always know what’s ahead; injury, surgery, illness…
But we can prepare, by moving our bodies in meaningful and enjoyable ways more often.
That’s why I keep coming back to this idea:
Exercise isn’t just about fitness, it’s about readiness.
It’s about giving your body—and your future—the best possible chance.
Watch Wendy’s story:
About the author
J. K. (Kelly) Amerson López is currently writing Amsterdam Strong, about surviving a ruptured aneurysm while on a cruise to Europe. She is the author of Embassy Kid: An American Foreign Service Family Memoir. She lives in South Florida with her husband and their rescue Lab and therapy dog, Kumba.
Want to keep moving, no matter what life throws at you?
Inside Wavemakers, we help you build strength, confidence, and resilience through simple, feel-good water workouts you can adapt to your body, on any day.