John's Profile

during my hospitalization for mini-strokes(3) on 8/08/10-TEE showed that my I had level 3-4 aortic valve leakage-docs in VA. said I should just wait & see because I was in great shape-Judith & I decided this was not enough(could not do anything with this hanging over our heard)--& because of her tenacity-we went to the cleveland clinic for tests(they are rated#1 & have easy access policy)-Dr. James Thomas, one of their best cardiologists-had them run a number of tests-he not only confirmed the aortic leakage-but thought that all of my problems were related to it (including my cardiac arrest-& that my Gingervitis of the late "70's could have caused all of my problems)we went back there - 10/11-12/10 for mor tests & to meet with Dr. Gosta Petteresson,one of the best heart surgeons in the world--we immediately like him & all that the cleveland clinic offered-but traveling to cleveland-& recovering there before we could fly to chicago-=where we were going to recover--was going to be a problem-we met with Dr. Barry Knight, tr the Cardiology center at Northwestern in sept--he is one of the leading electro-cardiologists in the world-(recently recruited toNorthwestern) Norhtwestern)-& he ran tests--this past week-we met with Dr. Robert Silverberg-the cardiologist who we were establishing ourselves with for post op treatment (recommended ny Dr. Knight)--we immediately liked him-& after more tests-Judith & I decided to ask him to set-up a meeting with the director of cardiac surgery at Northwestern-Dr. Patrick McCarthy-one of the 10 best cardiac surgeons in the world-& who worked with Dr. Pettersson at Cleveland clinic-(McCarthy was recurited to Northwestern to lead their cardiac hospital & surgery-he is a catholic grade school/hight school grad form chicago-went to notre dame & Stanford medical school-had a number of fellowships-& was a lead suregon at Cleveland Clinic until a few years ago--he & Pattersson are friends & both speak very highly of one another& had diner together in Denmark where they were both featured speakers at a global cardiac conference))--when we met with him last week-we immediately like him-& when he told us about what type of surgery he would perform(bovine valve replacement)plus the fact that Northwestern medical cneter is rated #10-but wants to be #1-we would have private rooms after my surgery-their cleanliness procedures-& confirmed that he could do the surgery on 11/02/10-=we said YES! So on tuesday I will WALK with Judith, Erin & Grady to Northwestern--& hopefully by Sunday==be able to return to our condo in Streeterville-where i will recover-- Judith has been a "GOD_SEND"-she has thought of everything-she has done amazing resarch-she could be a cardiologist where it not for all the blood!she can speak their language & they enjoy speaking with her--she has done so much--now it is my turn to have the "valve job" & to recover rapidly--so long as "I OBEY THE RULES"!!! rin & then others will be keeping you all updated on my surgery & progress-- see you all soon!!-LOVE YOU ALL FOR CARING SO MUCH! John JUST HAD A CALL FROM NORHTWESTERN-I HAVE TO CHECK IN AT 5:30AM TOMORROW MORNING FOR MY "VALVE-JOB" BEGINNING AT 7AM--