After Bovine Replacement & A-Fib, Kenneth Strokes Best Golf Score Ever

By Adam Pick on October 8, 2008

This email from Kenneth conjured up an ear-to-ear smile on my face.

As you can read below, Kenneth details the chronology to his best golf score ever. I guess bovine (cow) valve replacement and A-Fib helps your heart and your golf game!

 

 

Adam:

  • April 25, 2008: Aortic valve replacement (bovine)
  • April 30, 2008: First incident of atrial fibrilation
  • May 02, 2008: Second incident of a-fib
  • May 04, 2008: Third incident of a-fib
  • May 06, 2008: Out of hospital of a-fib
  • October 06, 2008: First “Hole In One” and shot 83; Best Score Ever

Thanks for your heart valve book and your encouragement.

Kenneth Kahn (Jane’s husband)


Written by Adam Pick
- Patient & Website Founder

Adam Pick, Heart Valve Patient Advocate

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.

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.


Donald Henry says on October 8th, 2008 at 4:08 pm

According to the heart surgeons at the Cleveland Clinic patients who have received the Carpentier-Edwards aortic pericardial valve now lasting up to 17 years before another surgery is required. Surgeons had been hesitant to use the bovine valve in patients under 60, but now more patients are getting this valve under the age of 60. This is great news. I received this valve when I was55 and I have had this valve for 8 years. This will be a determiing factor on which valve I will choose when it is time for another replacement. I had thought I would get the mechanical, because I wanted no more than 2 surgeries; however I am now thinking about getting the bovine valve, because chances are I will leave this earth due to other reasons other than my heart. Kenneth made a good decision.



Kenneth Kahn says on October 8th, 2008 at 4:34 pm

Kenneth didn’t make the decision. His wife (Jane) did all the research inspired by Adam’s book. The only decision Kenneth made was telling his surgeon that to get a pig valve would require a rabbinical dispensation, which seemed more trouble than it was worth. So we went with the cow valve. My surgeon prefers them anyway so that worked out for the best. Now, when my wife tells me to mow the lawn, i tend to just go out and graze. Other than that (and milky urine) I haven’t seen any negative side effects.



Donald Henry says on October 9th, 2008 at 2:25 pm

How old is Ken ? And does Adam know the life span for the Ross procedure?

I heard the life span for a heart transplant was about 10 years?

Don



Nancy says on October 11th, 2008 at 10:25 pm

Jane and Kenneth, thanks for the info. I am an avid golfer and am having the Carpentier Edwards Cow valve with the therma fix put in on Nov 12. Our friends want us to go to Phoenix in March to golf and I am not sure I will be ready, but your letter renewed my spirits. I am 52 and hoping that the valve will last 20 years. After that time, I am sure there will be new technology for all of us. Congrats on your hole in one.!!



Adam Pick says on October 13th, 2008 at 9:28 am

To Don,

Here are some statistics about the Ross Procedure.

http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/ross-procedure-statistics.php

To Nancy and Ken –

FYI, I just started golfing for the first time in 20 years. My dad has volunteered to be my coach. It’s amazing…. His coaching has really, really, really helped me. Along with my new heart valves, I’m hitting like never before.

Still… No hole-in-one yet. 🙂

Keep on tickin!

Adam



larry tabor says on October 22nd, 2008 at 9:45 pm

had aortic valve replacement surgery on may 31,2008, with car-edwards
magma bovine cow valve. am 61 and hoping this valve lasts a long
time—–so far so good!


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