At 82, Iris Prepares To Run 10-K After Heart Valve Surgery
March 31st, 2009I’ve posted a number of patient success stories about running after heart valve surgery. From the sounds of it, I believe we are about to add Iris to that special, patient list.
Iris Vinegar, an 82-year-old grandmother from Raleigh, North Carolina, is preparing to join 32,000 other runners for the Monument Avenue 10K this Saturday.
Iris Vinegar (Left) – Grandma, Runner And
Heart Valve Replacement Patient
Vinegar, a devoted distance runner, underwent four hours of open-heart, valve-replacement surgery on January 30, 2009 to replace her aortic valve which suffered from aortic stenosis.
“[My doctor] says I should be able to run twice as fast as before,” Vinegar said. Then she laughed. “I’m not sure that would be such a good thing. If I’m that fast, they’ll probably hand me a urine cup instead of a trophy or a medal when I cross the finish line.”
Vinegar’s condition, aortic stenosis, was detected four years ago. She ran three marathons — each preceded by a comprehensive check-up — and three Monument Avenue races before her aortic valve became severe to the point where surgery was required.
Picture of Diseased Aortic Valve (Aortic Stenosis)
“Physicians said I was in tip-top shape except for the valve,” Vinegar said. “They said my heart was in excellent condition and my arteries were beautiful.”
Now, with a new, fully-functional aortic heart valve, Iris Vinegar is set on completing her first race since surgery.
Keep on tickin’ (and runnin’) Iris!
You are an inspiration to us all!
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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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