About Shivayne Gandotra

My name is Shivayne Gandotra , and I am a third-year pre-medical student at the University of Michigan, majoring in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. My passion for medicine, particularly orthopedic surgery, stems from my own experiences with sports injuries and the long road to recovery. I take pride in perseverance and hard work, believing that adversity is an inevitable part of life—but one that can be overcome.

 

Outside of academics, I serve as the president of the Ann Arbor Fighting Game Club (FGC) and work as a tutor for the University’s TREE (Tutors for Refugee Education and Equality) program. While my commitments keep me busy, my dedication to helping others regain their mobility is at the heart of everything I do.

 

Why I Created Ligament Lifeline

 

For most of my life, martial arts was my escape—a source of freedom that allowed me to disconnect from the pressures of daily life. However, everything changed when I tore my ACL during wrestling before COVID. The injury was devastating, but I was fortunate to undergo surgery and return to training. Just as I was finding my rhythm again, a second ACL tear took me out of boxing, leaving me physically sidelined and mentally broken.

 

Had I not been able to receive a second surgery, I would have had to endure a lifetime of restricted movement and pain. This experience made me realize how critical access to proper medical care is—not just for elite athletes, but for anyone who deserves the right to move freely, live actively, and heal properly.

 

Today, I am still working through rehabilitation while balancing my studies, but my journey has solidified my purpose: to help others overcome the same physical and mental struggles I faced. Ligament Lifeline is my way of giving back—raising awareness, advocating for greater access to ligament surgery, and ultimately, helping individuals regain control over their lives.

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Join the Mission

 

Through Ligament Lifeline, I hope to establish my passion for this cause, raise awareness, and fund surgeries for those who need them. Every donation goes toward Operation Walk, a nonprofit providing free joint surgeries to patients who lack access to care.

 

If you have any questions or would like to support this initiative, feel free to reach out to me via email. Together, we can make a difference—because everyone deserves the right to move freely.