Rob's Profile

Five years ago I was diagnosed with aortic stenosis due to a faulty valve. Surgery eventually to be required. I have now reached that point and am on the horns of several dilemmas - which surgeon, tissue or mechanical, minimally invasive or standard, Ross procedure or not, etc. I will need the surgery in the next month or two, possibly three. Lots of things to think about. I decided to edit my story. More details: I am a male, 73 years of age, and live in Seattle. My medical team is all local - from Swedish Cherry Hill campus - and I will remain dependant on local resources. And the date of my starting this journal and becoming part of heartvalvesurgery.com is June 2011. My family support group is local, fortunately, although I also have family in the UK, to which I am closely connected via modern technology. One more note of minor interest: Beyond visiting friends and family I have never been in a hospital. (Well, not counting tonsilectomy at age 2). My experience in the cath lab will be my first time. I am truly a virgin.