Doctors performed the painful operation on June 19 at New York University Hospital for Joint Diseases, and she spent four nights there recovering, sources say.

Not only did Martha suffer intense physical pain, but she was also emotionally hurt because her billionaire boyfriend Charles Simonyi did not accompany her to the hospital, according to insiders.

A close source reveals, "Martha really could have used Charles' support going through this. She was heartbroken. Martha pretended she wasn't scared by the procedure, but she was very nervous."

The ENQUIRER eye witnessed Martha arriving at the Manhattan hospital by taxi at 7:10 am on June 19. She was accompanied by her daughter Alexis and Kevin Sharkey, editorial director of her magazine, Martha Stewart Living. She looked "ashen -faced." After the two-hour surgery, Martha recovered in a private 12th floor room.

Martha finally had the hip surgery after suffering intense pain for more than a year. To hide her condition from her studio audience, she'd been opening the program while seated, instead of walking out to greet them.

Despite the pain, workaholic Martha delayed hip replacement surgery until June, when there was a lengthy break in taping from her show.

Sources say the operation was a success; she left the hospital at 7 am on Saturday, June 23, exiting through an underground garage.

According to an eyewitness, Martha's driver put a walker and crutch into the back of her Range Rover. Again, Simonyi was not there to support
her.

"Before she left, Martha gave each of her nurses a bag of homemade cookies and a personal note," said a close source. "She then took off for her estate in Bedford, NY, to recuperate - and hoped Charles would visit her.