At 82, Iris Prepares To Run 10-K After Heart Valve Surgery
I’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!
P.S. To leave a comment, please click here.
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 the clinical facts of heart valve surgery with the personal experiences of 78 former valve surgery patients to help patients and caregivers better understand the opportunities and challenges of heart valve surgery. To learn more about Adam and his heart valve surgery book, click here.
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March 31st, 2009 at 1:51 pm
I love your blog. I have A. S. with a current measurement of .8 which seems to get less at each echo. I am 68 and have familial hyperlipidemia which is fairly well controlled however I know the day is coming to get a valve. I know that minimally invasive procedure are available in my area and wonder what folks experiences with them are. There is a non invasive procedure in trials. I would like to hold out for that if I can. I am interested too to know at what diameter (of their valve) most folks go for the replacement. Thanks. k
March 31st, 2009 at 2:07 pm
I live outside Richmond and would be interested to know what hospital and doctor she went to for her surgery. Also, did she have the standard or a minimally invasive surgery.
March 31st, 2009 at 5:55 pm
Yes, I would like to know what type of valve Iris and other successful surgery patients have used. I’d really like to know what type Robin Williams had since he is in the inbetween age for mechanical and tissue valve guidelines.
April 14th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
Hello Adam,
Thank you for what you are doing to help people. I know your book and website really helped my brother, Jeff Stoveken. Thank you for that!
April 15th, 2009 at 10:44 pm
I am interested to find out which valve Kim Hopper had replaced.
I found your book, Adam, very informational & helpful. Thank you. I’m planning to have my mitral valve repaired or replaced very shortly. I’m 67, and very short of breath when I try to do much of anything. Would also like to know if anyone had atrial fibrillation along with mitral valve stenosis, & after the MAZE procedure the atrial fib. went away. Also, did they have to take coumadin after surgery, or any other meds?????