Craig Horstman: Powered by Purpose

At 47, Laquey resident Craig Horstman dedicated much of his life to serving others. A retired Army first sergeant with 23 years of military service, the father of five has found a second career as a middle school teacher. Active in his church, community organizations and veterans groups, Craig has built a life of purpose.

Staying active has always been central to that purpose. Whether he's lifting weights, running or riding his motorcycle, movement isn't just a hobby—it's part of who he is.

But 3 years ago, everything changed. A motorcycle accident left Craig with a ruptured ACL and two meniscus tears in his knee. Suddenly, the activities that defined his routine were out of reach.

"With a torn ACL, there wasn't a lot I could do," Craig said. "I couldn't lift anymore. I wasn't on the motorcycle. I could walk, but a lot of load-bearing stuff and running, I couldn't do."

The injury affected more than his mobility.

"There were other things going on in my personal life," he said. "Lifting was my therapy, and then I couldn't lift. The accident took that away from me during an already difficult time."

Treatment delays only added to his frustration. After several months of appointments, imaging and preparation with another health system, Craig was finally scheduled for surgery. The day before the procedure, he tested positive for COVID-19 during preoperative screening. The long-awaited surgery was canceled.

But Craig was focused on one goal: getting back to the life he loved. He turned to the VA’s Community Care program and was referred to Phelps Health Orthopedics, where he met Sylvester Youlo, MD, MBA, MHA, FAAOS, FAAHKS. 

Dr. Youlo prepared Craig for surgery by discussing what to expect afterward, including the need to stay active, how and when to use crutches and a brace, and a timeline for recovery that could take up to a year.

"I had my knee surgery on a Thursday," Craig said. "On Monday, I was back in the gym."

With guidance from a strength and conditioning coach, Craig modified his workouts, carefully following the surgeon’s instructions.

"When I would go in for follow-up appointments, I'd tell Dr. Youlo what I was and wasn’t doing in my workouts," Craig said. "He'd say, 'OK, now you can do this.' I just followed his guidelines."

Craig credits Dr. Youlo and Phelps Health Outpatient Therapy Services with helping him recover ahead of schedule. Rather than following a one-size-fits-all recovery plan, Craig said his therapists recognized his current fitness level and progress and adjusted his therapy accordingly.

"They didn’t say, 'This is what we normally do, this is the protocol,'” he said. “They met me at the level I was at."

Originally told he would likely need about 6 months of physical therapy and a year before being fully released, Craig was discharged from therapy after about 4 months and fully released by Dr. Youlo at 10 months.

"It didn’t stop me," Craig said. "I didn't let it put me on the couch. I stayed active. I kept moving."

Today, Craig has not only returned to lifting but surpassed his previous personal records. Since surgery, he has increased his back squat from 305 pounds to 345 pounds and his deadlift from 405 pounds to 435 pounds.

He's back to riding his motorcycle, enjoying summer with his kids and staying involved in the veteran organizations that matter most to him.

At school, he enjoys joining his students on the playground, playing basketball and encouraging them to stay active.

"Being able to play basketball or hit a volleyball with them helps me build stronger relationships with them," Craig said. "I'm not just a teacher standing on the sideline. It helps build respect and trust."

Looking ahead, he hopes to continue serving others. Inspired by organizations such as Encounter Ministries and the Big Fish Foundation, Craig and his fiancée recently purchased property where they hope to one day create a place for veterans to find peace, enjoy the outdoors and connect with supportive resources.

For Craig, recovery meant more than healing after surgery. It meant returning to the active life that fuels his sense of purpose. 

“Without having the knee fixed, I wouldn't be able to do all that,” he said. “Now it’s better than the other one.”

"Every interaction I had with them was positive," Craig said. "They were willing to work with me to get where I needed to go and improve my quality of life. They met me where I was and worked forward from there."