Wade's Profile

In 2007, my family doctor thought he heard something with his stethoscope during an annual physical and recommended I see a cardiologist. After a series of tests, my cardiologist diagnosed aortic stenosis (https://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/tc/aortic-valve-stenosis-overview), which basically means my aortic valve is slowly hardening and getting more narrow. He told me the condition is probably congenital and that eventually I would need to have aortic valve replacement (AVR) surgery. In February 2011, following one of my regular echocardiograms, my cardiologist called and told me it was time to begin thinking of surgery. My aortic valve is at .93 centimeters. Several tests and procedures, including a heart catheterization (angiogram), followed in the next few weeks to confirm the diagnosis. After a couple of strong independent recommendations (both from friends in the medical field), some Internet research and an interview, I chose Dr. William Ryan to perform the surgery. The surgery is scheduled for Friday, April 29th at The Heart Hospital Baylor in Plano, Texas.