A Very Memorable Letter From Dr. Donald Ross, Inventor Of The Ross Procedure
Last night, I drove up to my house after a very, very, very lonnnnnng day of work. The past twelve hours were filled with hundreds of emails, several conference calls, Los Angeles traffic, etc.
Little did I know… My mailbox was holding a short, one page letter that would bring me to tears.
I was on the phone with Rob, a good friend, as I flipped through the daily junk-mail that advertised everything from built-in cabinets, to the local Indian restaurant, to Direct TV.
Then, I saw it.
“I have to call you back,” I said to Rob, “There is a letter in my hand from Dr. Donald Ross.”
For those of you who don’t know me, I had a Ross Procedure Operation a few years back. Dr. Vaughn Starnes performed the complex surgery which replaced both the aortic and pulmonary valves of my heart.
After a challenging recovery, I am now doing very well. I am surfing again, scuba diving again and I just got married. To help other heart valve surgery patients, I wrote a book called The Patient’s Guide To Heart Valve Surgery.
That said, I was holding a personal note from the inventor of the Ross Procedure, Dr. Donald Ross. As I peeled back the envelope, I remembered my phone call with Dr. Ross a few weeks back. He is quite an amazing man.
The letter unfolded in my hands…
Needless to say, I was touched, moved and inspired as I read the note. I have included a scanned copy below.
To think… Dr. Donald Ross “thanks” me for writing my book.
To think… Dr. Donald Ross writes that he will “find my book useful in explaining the surgery”.
To think…
I never, ever, ever, everrrrrrr fathomed this as a possibility. Especially, considering my thanks to him is boundary-less. Because of Dr. Ross, and his innovative thoughts on cardiac surgery, I am now living a full, healthy life again.
I should be the one thanking him, don’t you think?
:)
Keep on tickin!
Adam Pick is the author of The Patient’s Guide To Heart Valve Surgery, a unique book which integrates the clinical facts of heart valve surgery with the personal experiences of an actual heart valve surgery patient. This special book was designed to help patients and caregivers better understand the realities of heart valve surgery (heart valve replacement and heart valve repair), to minimize patient stress and to enhance the patient’s recovery. To learn more about Adam’s heart valve surgery book, click here.
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November 30th, 2007 at 7:00 pm
Adam, I just wanted to say hi and thank you for your fun blogs. I have your book and am facing mitral valve repair surgery, probably with concomitant maze.
When I read about Dr. Gaudiani in your blog, I was very pleased. I met with him in Monterey, where he does surgery on Wednesdays, and he was most informative, pleasant, and willing to spend a lot of time explaining open heart surgery and valve repair.
I have an echocardiogram (I get one every 6 months) this coming week and an appointment at UCLA with Dr. Richard Shemin, who also has a tremendous reputation and was recommended by my cardiologist (along with Vince Gaudiani) AND by Dr. Gaudiani! In fact, Vince Gaudiani said he would recommend four open heart/valve surgeons in California:
Himself
Dr. Vaughn Starnes, your surgeon, USC
Dr. Aidan Raney of Hoag Institute, Newport Beach
Dr. Richard Shemin of UCLA
I will keep you informed of when I choose to go forward with this surgery. I know it is something I should do and need to do and will do…fairly soon.
Best,
Leslie
November 30th, 2007 at 9:35 pm
Hey there Leslie,
That is an impressive list of docs you have developed there!
Let me know if you have any questions going forward and PLEASE KEEP ME POSTED!!!
:)
Adam
November 30th, 2007 at 9:36 pm
Adam: I think this is such an wonderful complement.
Dr.’s are given God-given talents and a great deal of intelligence that enables them to fix our bodies. However, your book has given all of us that have prepared for our surgeries, survived them and now are in the healing process a source of information, inspiration and collegiality. Take the thanks and know what a good thing you have done.
I hope my physician, Dr. Vincent Gaudiani will also be referring his patients to you book. It continues to be a wonderful resource for me. Thanks again and Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 14th, 2008 at 2:11 am
One last thing, my cardiothoracic surgeon William Ryan has the ad for your book on his website so that makes me feel good!
February 14th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Really? Dr. Ryan has an ad for my book up?
Wow! That is incredible. I had nooooooo idea. Thanks for sharing.
So you know, many of my readers have gone to Dr. Ryan for their valve surgeries.
Here is a quick story about Melissa Causey, she had Dr. Ryan perform the Ross Procedure on her in Texas.
Take care Tammie!!!
June 24th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
Adam:
I had the Switch Surgery when I was in eight grade. I was extremely terrified of the procedure and what it entailed and unfortunately I was informed that the outcome would not be very good considering the gravity of the procedure. Nevertheless, here I am today a senior in college studying to become a cardiologist. It is funny where life leads us sometimes and I am excited to read about your story and the letter you recieved from Dr. Ross. My goal is to personally thank Dr. Ross one day for what he has given me in terms of a NEW life. Thank you!
Derek Patton
August 22nd, 2008 at 4:10 pm
Adam,
I am a mother of a Ross procedure patient(now age 10)…if only I could have came across this book before my daughter had the surgery. I blindly went into this surgery not really knowing what to expect. Praise God that all is okay.
My daughters surgery was rescheduled twice in the last month…then to find out that Dr. Ross him self was there the day of surgery. When my daughters dr. told me that was why they pushed it back the last time I was thrilled. I really thought this was a fairly new procedure, I didn’t realize it had been around for as long as it has.
My daughter is doing great we are now 2 years past surgery and she is completely normal and extremely active.