I just visited Heart Valve Journals, our interactive community where patients meet and learn from each other. While clicking through many of these amazing journals, guestbooks and photo sections, I noticed that during the next 24 hours Tammy, Jeff & Kent will be going in for heart valve surgery.

Jeff Roemer needs a new aortic valve. Tammy Golchert is undergoing mitral valve repair. And, Kent Kersey needs an aortic valve replacement and root reconstruction. If you like, feel free to visit their Heart Valve Journals by clicking their names above.

My thoughts and prayers are with Tammy, Jeff and Kent.

Keep on tickin!

I’m not sure the Human Genome Project detected it, but I think we all maintain a unique gene that enables us to wish. Some people wish for peace. Some people wish for wealth. Most people, in this community, wish for healthy hearts.

Interestingly, Pat Studebaker had a lifelong wish to witness a heart surgery. Thanks to the Never Too Late organization and Dr. Marc Gerdisch, Pat got her wish last week.

Dr. Marc Gerdisch Explains Heart Valve Surgery To Pat Studebaker

At the St. Francis Heart Center in Indianapolis, Indiana, Pat Studebaker saw Dr. Gerdisch perform a 5-hour, double heart valve surgery.

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——- UPDATE START ———

Hi everybody,

I just learned that the web chat, “Stress, Depression & Heart Disease”, which was scheduled for today, has been postponed. According to The Cleveland Clinic, it will be rescheduled. When I learn more, I will let you all know.

Keep on tickin!
Adam

——- UPDATE END ———

Sorry for the last minute notice, but today at 12pm (EST), The Cleveland Clinic will host a special web chat titled, “Stress, Depression & Heart Disease”.  Dr. Leo Pozuelo, who is the associate director of the Bakken Heart Brain Institute, will moderate this very interesting session.

As I personally experienced issues with cardiac depression following surgery, I encourage all patients to attend this event. So you know, my research suggests that up to 32% of patients can experience depression after heart valve surgery.

If you would like to attend this free event, please click here to learn more.

Keep on tickin!

When evaluating surgical options for a heart valve replacement procedure, a common patient concern is selecting the “right” mechanical or tissue valve. Specific to this topic, Jenny recently wrote to me, “Hi Adam – I’m 38 years old and need aortic valve replacement surgery. The durability of a mechanical valve is attractive but it seems like so many people, of all ages, are getting tissue valves. Is that a trend that I should be paying attention to?”

I was very fortunate to ask Dr. Richard Shemin, the Professor and Chairman of Cardiothoracic Surgery at UCLA Medical Center, this exact question. Here are the highlights from our discussion.

Thanks to Jenny for her question and a special thanks to Dr. Shemin for taking the time to discuss this important question with our community.

• To learn more about Dr. Shemin and his patients, please click here.

For those patients who are hearing impaired, I have provided a written, video transcript of my discussion with Dr. Shemin below.

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Although the MitraClip was recently recalled, one of our favorite patient success stories continues to be Kato Pomer from Los Angeles. As you might recall, Kato underwent a MitraClip procedure two years ago following a quick onset of severe mitral regurgitation.

Kato Pomer, 94, Mitral Valve Repair Patient

Yesterday, I learned that Kato just celebrated her 94th birthday. That said, I wanted to wish Kato a very, very, very happy birthday!

Keep on tickin’ Kato!