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At 83 Years Young, John DeFalco Is "Bored" With His Recovery

Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Page Last Updated: May 13, 2025

Given my recent blog about heart valve surgery in patients over eighty, I thought you might like to read about John DeFalco from Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

His daughter, Coreen writes to me:

My father, John DeFalco, is 83 years old. Due to his age, our doctors told us he was at high risk for surgical aortic valve replacement surgery.

John DeFalco, Eighty Three Year Old Heart Surgery Patient Success Story

Here's the good news... It's two weeks after surgery and Dad has far surpassed everybody's expectations! Dad left the hospital eight days after surgery. At home, he has received care from nurses several times a week. Dad has also been seeing a physical therapist.

As his prime support group, my two sisters and I, along with my mother, were very active in helping him recuperate. John will see the surgeon tomorrow for his follow-up visit and is looking to get permission to start driving again. He says he is bored sitting around!

We were amazed that he had no major pain complications following surgery. In fact, he was off all pain meds prior to leaving the hospital. All in all, he was very lucky and is looking forward to resuming his daily activities.

FYI, Dr. Derek Muerke (pictured below) at Flagler Hospital was our surgeon. We were so impressed with the job he did and the follow-up care my father received after the surgery. I highly recommend this surgeon. In fact, I will be transferring my care to the cardiologists at Flagler Hospital in the event I need such a procedure in the future. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.

Dr. Derek Muerke

Adam... Thanks again for your heart valve surgery book. Your rather frank description of your surgical experience really helped me understand what was happening throughout this ordeal. I wish you the very best of luck and health in the future.

Written by Adam Pick - Patient & Website Founder

Adam Pick is a heart valve patient and author of The Patient's Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. In 2006, Adam founded HeartValveSurgery.com to educate and empower patients. This award-winning website has helped over 10 million people fight heart valve disease. Adam has been featured by the American Heart Association and Medical News Today.

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