About Me (In My Own Words)
I had Rheumatic Fever as a fourteen year old that damaged a bicuspid aortic valve. In 2000, I found out that the leakage had progressed and that valve replacement surgery was in my future. In late 2009, at 53 years old, the leakage had progressed and surgery was set for early December at Mt. Sinai Hospital in NYC. Dr. Paul Stelzer performed a Ross Procedure on me that was very successful. I was out of the hospital in 4 days and walking in my neighborhood within a week. I began to add in some easy running just over a month after the surgery and was back to lifting weights (light at first) and regular running at 3 months. I have since run a couple of half marathons and am signed up to run my first full marathon in October, 2011. A suggestion that I can give to anyone who is going to have to undergo heart surgery is this: Try to get in the best shape that you can before the surgery. Your stay in the hospital and recovery should go much easier and quicker.
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Binghamton, New York
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My surgery date is:
December 4, 2009
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I was diagnosed with:
Aortic Regurgitation
Bicuspid Aortic Valve
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My surgery was:
Ross Procedure
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My hospital is:
Mt. Sinai