After Double Heart Valve Surgery, Robin Williams Returns To Stand-Up
Great news!!!
I just learned that Robin Williams - one of my favorite actors and comedians - made an impromptu, stand-up appearance at 142 Throckmorton Theatre in Mill Valley, California on Tuesday night. It was Williams’ first public performance since undergoing double heart valve surgery on March 13, 2009.
Robin Williams - Actor, Comedian, Heart Valve Surgery Patient
During the four-hour operation, Dr. Marc Gillinov, from The Cleveland Clinic repaired his mitral valve and replaced his aortic valve.
Although Williams was not expected to perform, he could not resist the opportunity to get back on stage. “We expected him to just watch,” said Lucy Mercer, the theater’s founder and artistic director. “He’s still fragile, obviously.”
“You know I’m a whore for an audience,” Williams told the packed house.
The 57-year-old comedian is known to be a bundle of sweaty energy while performing, but this time fans became concerned when he appeared to be laboring even harder than usual.
During his impromptu stand-up, Williams acknowledged that he had selected a cow valve for his heart valve replacement. According to reports, a member of the audience asked Williams if he craved different foods now that he was “part cow”. The Academy Award winner responded with, “Well… I’m grazing more.”
At several points during the 30-minute set, Williams was remarkably candid, talking about his surgery, his doctors and nurses, dealing with pain, and other intimate matters.
After the routine, Williams said, “I needed that.”
Keep on tickin’ Robin!
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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 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, problems and challenges of heart valve surgery. To learn more about Adam and his heart valve surgery book, click here.
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May 7th, 2009 at 9:36 pm
so do all AVR patients now get first chance at buying tickets to his show? that would be an unforseen bonus of this surgery
May 8th, 2009 at 6:12 pm
Just came across your blog after looking up life expectancy of heart patients and thought as an encouragement you mightb like to know this. I had my mitral valve replaced at the age on 3 in 1969, that valve was replaced when I was 14 in 1980 (no problems I had just grown too big for it) I am now 43