Kintsugi Heroes
David Moran · 57 min
After 39 major surgeries and a lifetime of pain from a rare incurable genetic disorder, David Moran proves that choosing a positive mindset every single morning is itself an act of profound courage.
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At 13, David Moran was captain of his cricket and football teams, a natural athlete who loved sport. Then came the diagnosis: Fairbanks multi-epiphyseal dysplasia, a rare genetic condition that means every joint in his body except his spine was formed with rough, misshapen surfaces instead of smooth ones. He was told to stop playing sport immediately. What followed was a lifetime of watching his joints wear away, one surgery at a time. He's now had 39 major orthopedic surgeries over 40 years, with number 40 already booked. He has replaced both hips, both shoulders, and had 26 knee operations. He lives with chronic pain that no amount of movement can fix, because every step forward literally breaks him down further.
But David's story is not about the surgeries. It's about the morning he sat on his bed in his 40s and made a choice. He realized he could decide, every single day when his feet hit the floor, whether he would be a positive or negative influence on himself and everyone around him. That choice has become easier with practice, though he still has hard days. David has also learned to work closely with his surgical team, developing custom medication cocktails and nerve blocks that bypass his hypersensitivity to anesthesia and opioids, turning what once nearly killed him into a manageable process. He runs his own mental health business, has raised children who also carry this condition, and became a foster parent to children with severe physical disabilities. When asked how he is doing, he says he is one of the richest people in the world because he gets to do what he wants, when he wants. He is grateful to live in an era of medical technology his mother and grandfather never had.
⚠️ Content advisory: this episode discusses grief & loss, which some listeners may find distressing.
If you need support, you're not alone. Help is available: • Lifeline (24/7 crisis support): 13 11 14 · lifeline.org.au • GriefLine: 1300 845 745 · griefline.org.au
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