Shelby Praises Dr. John Randolph and Dr. Ron Elkins, Oklahoma Heart Surgeons

Shelby,
I live in Dallas and anticipate aortic valve replacement soon. Any insight on Dallas surgeons?

I’m not familiar enough with surgeons in the Dallas area to offer any meaningful insight. As I said, I had a Ross and after a great deal of research discovered one of the best facilities and surgeons for that procedure right in my backyard.

Thanks for your feedback. I will probably go with Dr. Henry. He is with Baylor.

I wish you the very best. Are you having a Ross?

I totally agree with you. We live in Mexico and my husband was having congestive heart failure, with mitral valve problmes etc. A friend told us about OHH and since we are from OK, we looked into it. The web site sounded too good to be true…. IT IS ALL TRUE! The most amazing place with the most amazing doctors. His surgeon was Dr. John Randolph too, and CHF doctor is Dr. Phil Adamson. Having 3 separate surgeries last September we really got to know the people there. The nursing staff is incredible as well and when they say the patient to nurse ratio is 4:1, it is true, no visiting hours, and so much more.

My husband is doing well, still gets short of breath, but very active and playing tennis daily, lifting weights, swimming all just after 4 month. There are times he will back off as he gets sore and maybe more short of breath, but all in all, so much better than before.

Thanks Adam for all your hard work and keeping us informed.

Shelby,
My issue stems from radiation/chemo as a childhood cancer (Hodgkins) survivor. I have been monitoring my valve for over ten years and I was told I am entering the one to two year window. Valve area .9. But I am still a-symptomatic. Take care.

I wish you the best. I’ll give you a word of encouragement and say that the surgery, for me, wasn’t nearly as bad as I feared. It is scary, but I think a week or two post-op, you’ll look back and wonder what the big deal was. I’m not making light of a major surgery, though. Let me know if you want any info for the doctors/hospital I decided on. Take care.

I think I am going to stay in Dallas. I am researching Dr. Henry and, so far, insiders are telling me good things. Thanks for the encouragement. It has been a while since I have been under the knife but I have faith suffering is for a purpose. It would be nice to chat maybe as I get closer to the big day. If you send me a contact email at harnessmatt@gmail.com maybe I can give you a call. Thanks.

Matt,

Have you considered Dr. William Ryan in Plano? He’s one of the valve surgeon gurus in Dallas area.

Keep on tickin!

Adam

Three-month checkup yesterday — doctor said everything sounds completely normal. Would definitely do the Ross again. Have an echo scheduled for April, so we’ll see what things look like close up.

Shelby and Adam,
My son is due to have an aorta replacement within the next two weeks. He is going to be at the OHH. We have read Adam’s book and it has helped immensely to better prepare us for the surgery. My son is 37 and has two young sons. An additional concern we have is how to help the 11 and 9 year old boys make it through the process along with my son and we care givers. Any suggestions?

Hi Kathy,

I have an eight year old son. I had known about my condition for most of his life, so he essentially grew up with the possibility that I would at some point have heart surgery. My wife and I were always very open about what was going on, so when the day came he was fairly prepared. On the morning of the surgery we had lots of family members present, along with our pastor. My mom brought a lot of games to keep them busy (OHH has a nice waiting area). I was in surgery nearly eight hours, so the wait got a little long, but he did just fine.

Just curious — who’s his surgeon?

Has anybody researched Emory Hospital in Atlanta? If so, any surgeons you have information on? Anybody had a personal experience there? My 25 year-old daughter will have Aortic Valve Replacement surgery this summer and keeps leaning toward Emory. I have not found enough information about AVR surgery at Emory. Thanks for any help.

Shelby,

I am encouraged by your results. I am 41 and need valve replacement within the next 2-3 months I am told. A local surgeon mentioned Dr. Elkins to me. Did you come across anyone at the University of Alabama at Birmingham or in the Houston area? I live in New Orleans and would like to have this done nearby if possible.

Philip

Five month follow-up w/ echo was last Wednesday. Everything looked great. Minor regurgitation on the homograph, which the doctor said would likely improve over time. So far so good. Having a Ross is turning out to be a very good decision for me.

Phillip, have you consulted Adam’s surgeon database?

-Shelby

Shelby, I am scheduled for the Ross Procedure Thursday, May 7, 2009 with Dr. Craig Elkins and his father, Dr. Ron Elkins at Integris Medical Center in Oklahoma City. I was delighted to read the account of your procedure with Dr. Ron Elkins. I feel confident going in to this surgery and am looking forward to regaining some energy lost over the last several years. I am a 53 year old active female in very good health (other than aortic stenosis) and my husband and I were so thankful I am a candidate for this procedure. Thanks for posting encouraging words! I look forward to posting my success story. Dana Ellis

Hi Dana,

Please let us know how your procedure went. All the best!

-Shelby

Dana, Hope you are doing well. My daughter had the ross procedure performed by Dr. R. Elkins in Children Hospital in Oklahoma City when she was 12 years old in 2001. She had aortic stenosis and is now 20 yrs old and doing great. She is a motocross rider and active in numerous other sports. We live in washington state and came to him because he was recommended by her cardiologist here. I am positive you will do well with him. Best of Luck.

Janet

An update:

Just had one year follow up after RP last November. All the key parameters (dP, area, EF) were better this time than before, so it looks like I’m headed in the right direction.

-Shelby

YES!!! Dr. Elkins did a revision of my Ross Procedure (my third one in a two year period) in June of 1996. He replced the pulmonary position valve, zapped me with butt-load of prednisone and even though I had a hip-replacement in 2006, my heart health seems to be fine! I’m 53 and even though the fake hip limits my physical activity I can still jump on my bike and ride HARD for a long time! Not sure of the long-term on the aortic position that was originally replaced in 1994 (I ran into the surgeon who did the first two recently-he told me he quit doing Ross procedures due to the poor success rate (maybe his, but Dr. Elkins might be able to teach him a thing or two!!!) and he predicted 8-10 years for me. I’m approaching year number 14 . .. . thanks, Dr. Elkins!!! PS: He had a nurse who was adorable, I forgot her name and that will have to be that. Best wishes to all of you!

Hey Adam–I can’t find an email address for you!!!! I wrote an essay and recorded an audio book way back in 1998 (therapy, pissing, moaning, good times . ..;>/ . . . I’d love to forward those to you! My timing was bad-internet wasn’t happening yet, so, it’s so cool that you have this book out there! I’d be honored if you listened to my audio book! You may contact me at bobsluys@kw.com thanks!!!!!

Hi,

I am a 57 year old female which had the Ross procedure done by Dr. Ronald Elkins twenty years ago this past March. I am currently doing great, slight leakage in hormograph valve, but no major problems. Active, and really heathly thanks to God and Dr. Elkins.

Hello my name is William Hooker or willie as I have went by my whole life. I had my first ross procedure done feb 8 1982 when I was only 3 years old. I stil have the same pulmonary valve that was moved then but I have had my aortic valve replaced twice. Dr elkins performed all 3 of my surgeries. I have heard many stories of him traveling all over the world doing surgeries and people coming from all over the world to see him. If he gets on here to read these I would like to thank him from the bottom of my heart for giving me my life.

My son was diagnosed with stenosis of the aortic valve in 1985 at the age of 16 mo. He was treated at Mass. General in Boston. In 1999
we were told that he needed immediate surgery. Mass. General did not offer us the option of a Ross. We carefully researched our options and two weeks later left our home in New Hampshire to go to Oklahoma City Childrens Hospital where Dr. Ronald Elkins performed his surgery. We were told he was the best in the world and we were not disappointed. JT celebrated his 11th birthday the day after his surgery. Today my son, JT is 26 years old happy and healthy. We can’t begin to thank the hospital, staff and especially Dr. Elkins for our miracle. God Bless!!!

I also had surgery with Dr. Elkins back in 1981. I was the worst off patient he said he’d ever seen. During my second surgery I went into cardiac arrest, needed a transfusion of 8 units of blood and oxygen to my brain had to be shut off longer than they would have liked. However, I came through with no problems. I needed angioplasty at the age of 4, and now at 34 need another.

I was experiencing some health issues recently and was in the hospital. My mother wondered if it was connected to my cardiac history. So she wrote to Dr. Elkins. He remembered my case clearly and said he wanted to talk to me and to the doctors. Wow! What an amazing man!

You truly were in the best care.