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After Double Heart Valve Surgery And Aortic Root Repair, Jonathan Smiles In Traffic

Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Page Last Updated: May 12, 2025

Talk about an incredible, patient attitude towards heart valve surgery? I thought all of you might appreciate reading about Jonathan Abramson... Here is Jonathan's story:

Hi Adam,

I am 29 years old and just had my second heart surgery. I was born with a congenital diseased aorta. Growing up, this never affected my lifestyle. I was always a very active person and played sports in high school. After college in 2002, I had a mechanical aortic valve replacement.

Everything was fine, until a few years later when a routine echo discovered a 5.7cm aortic aneurysm that was partially caused by my initial mechanical valve being too small for my body.

Jonathan Abramson, heart valve patient, riding horse after surgery

Jonathan Abramson - Double Heart Valve Surgery Patient

I recently had my aortic root repaired with a Dacron graft as well as a new larger mechanical valve.

I had the procedure done in Stanford by Dr. Craig Miller, who recent performed heart surgery on Aaron Boone. I cannot give a higher praise to Dr. Miller and his team at Stanford. I felt more comfortable having this 12-hour operation that going for a routine teeth cleaning. They were awesome during both pre- and post-op.

Dr. Craig Miller - Jonathan's Surgeon

It's only been 6 weeks since the operation and I am back in the gym four times a week and basically have no restrictions except for not lifting as much right now since I am still being a little careful about the sternum. This summer I will continue my active lifestyle as I am an avid surfer even though I am on Coumadin therapy for life.

I wanted to post this to help ease the mind's of people going through similar surgeries. I had all the normal anxieties that everyone else goes leading up to the surgery. Heart surgery may seem like a crazy surgery but the risks are relatively low if you take care of them in a timely manner.

Mechanical heart valve replacements from top and side view

Mechanical Aortic Valve Replacement

You can have a normal, if not better quality of life than most people and a normal life expectancy (new studies show valve surgery does not affect your life expectancy). I also feel that I can appreciate life more than people that haven't gone through such a experience and live life more passionately.

For example, I remember a few weeks ago being stuck in Orange County traffic with a huge smile on my face.

Written by Adam Pick - Patient & Website Founder

Adam Pick is a heart valve patient and author of The Patient's Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. In 2006, Adam founded HeartValveSurgery.com to educate and empower patients. This award-winning website has helped over 10 million people fight heart valve disease. Adam has been featured by the American Heart Association and Medical News Today.

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