Aaron Boone To Undergo Heart Valve Surgery
March 18th, 2009As we have seen, valvular disorders can effect all different types of people – from comedians (Robin Williams) to governors (Arnold Schwarzenegger) to former first ladies (Barbara Bush).
We have also seen the impact of aortic stenosis and mitral valve regurgitation on athletes including Ronny Turiaf (from the NBA) and Teppo Numminen (from the NHL). Today, we learned that Aaron Boone of the Houston Astros baseball team will need heart valve surgery, specific to his aortic valve.
Aaron Boone – To Have Aortic Valve Replacement
“I have been diagnosed as having a heart condition involving the aorta and aortic valve,” Aaron Boone said, flanked by nearly the entire Astros team at a Wednesday morning press conference in a meeting room at the Osceola County Stadium complex.
Like me, Boone will have surgery to have his aortic valve replaced. Boone had been diagnosed with moderate aortic valve disease in his mid-twenties. Although Boone remains asymptomatic, reports suggest his operation will occur next week.
“Initially, my doctors thought I could delay corrective surgery for some time, but because of some variations in my condition, they are now advising me to deal with the problem sooner rather than later,” Boone said. “Am I going to recover well enough to play baseball again? Probably. Will I play baseball again? I don’t know at this time. We’ll cross that bridge when we get there.”
“It definitely hits home, but I’m doing well with it,” Boone continued. “I’m fairly educated about it now, and I have a strong faith and a great family and friends and teammates. I really am doing well and I’m ready to tackle this thing and get it behind me and get on with life.”
Said general manager Ed Wade: “After a lot of discussion and consultation, Aaron is in the position now where he had to deal with this issue. As you can see by the audience here, by the number of teammates in the room, this is something we didn’t want Aaron to deal with as an individual. We’re standing behind him.”
Boone, 36, was selected by the Reds in the third round of the 1994 First-Year Player draft. He made his big league debut in 1997 and played the next seven years with the Reds. He was dealt to the Yankees at the Trade Deadline in 2003, and later that year swung his way into baseball history, knocking a walk-off homer against Boston’s Tim Wakefield in the 11th inning of Game 7 of the American League Championship Series, sealing the pennant for the Yankees.
Aaron Boone and his his wife, Laura, have one son, Brandon Aaron.
We wish Aaron a very successful surgery and recovery!!!
Keep on tickin!
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| About The Author: Adam Pick is a double, heart valve surgery patient and author of The Patient's Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. This unique book integrates clinical research with the personal experiences of 135 former patients to help future patients and their caregivers better understand the problems, the opportunities and the realities of heart valve surgery. To learn more about Adam and his heart valve surgery book, click here. |
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