I just received the most fantastic picture of 5-year old Garrison Griffith. His mother, Vanessa, sent me this picture along with a very reassuring note about her son’s heart valve surgery.

Vanessa writes, “Here’s Garrison about a month after his Ross Procedure. It is now six months after the double, heart valve replacement and Garrison is doing great!”

How great is that picture? Way to go Garrison and the Griffith family!

Keep on tickin!

As with any surgery, you or your caregiver should develop some form expectation about the potential success and failure rates of that surgery. This thought definitely applies to a complex heart surgery like aortic valve replacement.

That said, my family and I did LOTS of research before I decided that the Ross Procedure was the best option to remedy my narrow heart valve (severe aortic stenosis).

I just received an email from Greg that reads, “Adam – I need my aortic valve replaced. I’ve heard a little bit about the Ross Procedure. I’m 50 years old. Do you have any statistics or data about the success/failure of the double valve replacement over time?”

In response to Greg’s question, I have learned more-and-more about the Ross Procedure over the years. Recently, I developed a separate page which illustrates the results of this unique type of aortic valve replacement.

To see these statistics, click Ross Procedure Results For Aortic Valve Replacement.

Keep on tickin!

Once diagnosed with severe aortic heart valve disease (stenosis) and an enlarged heart, I went into action mode.

Yes. I was confused. Yes. I was scared. Yes. I may have even been a little bit depressed (and a tad angry).

Still, my heart needed to be fixed quickly. Dr. Chaikin, my second opinion cardiologist, had given me 30 days to relieve the stress and strain on my dilated (enlarged) heart. Otherwise, Dr. Chaikin told me there could be more damage to my cardiac muscle.

During the surgeon selection process, I set up interviews with Dr. Trento (Cedar Sinai) and Dr. Starnes (USC Medical Center). I would use this time to evaluate my potential surgeons and my options for valve replacement devices (mechanical, tissue, homograft valves) and surgical procedures (open heart, minimally invasive, robotic, ross procedures).

Needless to say, I was overwhelmed with information. I was also overwhelmed with the notion that I would be the one choosing both my valve replacement and the surgical procedure.

I mean… Come on… Who am I to know which valve would be best for me? That’s a big decision. And, I have enough trouble choosing between eggs, oatmeal or waffles for breakfast each morning.

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When I was first diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis and regurgitation, I was immediately confronted with several choices.

• When would I have surgery?
• Who would be the surgeon?
• Would I get a tissue valve or a mechanical valve?

One of the most pivotal questions I soon discovered was, “What procedure are you going to have Adam?” There seemed to be a pretty simple answer to that question.

“Ummm. I’ll have the procedure that replaces my diseased aortic valve and makes me healthy again!”

Soon enough, I learned about all the different procedures / choices that were available. It was not as easy as I originally thought.

I first learned about the Ross Procedure from Dr. Alfredo Trento at Cedar-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. Dr. Trento felt the Ross Procedure would be a good fit for me given my active lifestyle and my desire not to be on coumadin therapy for the rest of my life.

Dr. Trento’s suggestion was seconded by Dr. Vaughn Starnes, my surgeon. So, on December 21, 2005, I had the double valve replacement surgery at USC Medical Center.

Leading up to my operation, several patients suggested I check the Ross Registry for information about the procedure. However, when I visited the website, there was nothing there.

Recently, however, a new Ross Registry Website was launched at www.rossregistry.net. The new Ross Procedure website provides lots of information about the Ross Procedure and several videos, including an interview with Dr. Donald Ross, the inventor of the procedure.

(FYI, I couldn’t believe it, I recently received a letter from Dr. Donald Ross about my book.)

Anyways, feel free to visit the Ross Registry to learn more about this unique aortic valve replacement procedure.

Keep on tickin,

Adam

Last night, I drove up to my house after a very, very, very lonnnnnng day of work. The past twelve hours were filled with hundreds of emails, several conference calls, Los Angeles traffic, etc.

Little did I know… My mailbox was holding a short, one page letter that would bring me to tears.

I was on the phone with Rob, a good friend, as I flipped through the daily junk-mail that advertised everything from built-in cabinets, to the local Indian restaurant, to Direct TV.

Then, I saw it.

“I have to call you back,” I said to Rob, “There is a letter in my hand from Dr. Donald Ross.”

For those of you who don’t know me, I had a Ross Procedure Operation a few years back. Dr. Vaughn Starnes performed the complex surgery which replaced both the aortic and pulmonary valves of my heart.

After a challenging recovery, I am now doing very well. I am surfing again, scuba diving again and I just got married. To help other heart valve surgery patients, I wrote a book called The Patient’s Guide To Heart Valve Surgery.

That said, I was holding a personal note from the inventor of the Ross Procedure, Dr. Donald Ross. As I peeled back the envelope, I remembered my phone call with Dr. Ross a few weeks back. He is quite an amazing man.

The letter unfolded in my hands…

Needless to say, I was touched, moved and inspired as I read the note. I have included a scanned copy below.

To think… Dr. Donald Ross “thanks” me for writing my book.

To think… Dr. Donald Ross writes that he will “find my book useful in explaining the surgery”.

To think…

I never, ever, ever, everrrrrrr fathomed this as a possibility. Especially, considering my thanks to him is boundary-less. Because of Dr. Ross, and his innovative thoughts on cardiac surgery, I am now living a full, healthy life again.

I should be the one thanking him, don’t you think?

Keep on tickin!