After Mitral Valve Replacement, Don Flies Hooch To Safety

By Adam Pick on August 29, 2010

Some really interesting patient stories continue to fill up my inbox. Here’s a great one from Don about his new mission saving dogs after mitral valve replacement.

 

Don Hull, Heart Valve
Replacement Patient, With Hooch

 

Hey Adam,

I recently regained my Special Issuance Class III FAA medical certificate which allows me to fly my airplane as a private pilot again.  I had an Edwards Bovine tissue mitral valve placed in April 2009 and had to wait at least six months before beginning the rigorous physical testing to regain my FAA medical certificate.

The certificate was awarded to me in late June of this year.

One week later, I received a Pilots ‘n Paws (www.pilotsnpaws.org) request to rescue a 5 year old Boston Terrier from an animal shelter in Kentucky and relocate him to a Boston Terrier rescue group in Alabama.  Above, you’ll find a photo of “Hooch”  after the flight.  He has a pleasant personality and is deserving of living many more years. I hope I am too!

 

 

Life has never been better after my mitral valve replacement surgery! Thanks for your heart valve book and your web site.

Sincerely,
Don Hull
Decatur, Alabama


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.


Midge says on August 29th, 2010 at 7:05 pm

Don, congratulations on getting your medical certification so you can get back into the skies. I live in Mojave, Ca. (home of the first private spaceflight) and although I’m not a flier, many of the people in this area are and I know how highly they value being able to fly. We have such beautiful wide-open blue skies that everybody likes to fly in and out of Mojave. I also appreciate your work with Pilots N Paws…you have the means to make a difference to our animal friends and you are doing it, so that makes you one good guy in my book. Thank you so much!

Midge



dr.vipul says on September 2nd, 2010 at 12:45 pm

hello sir
my uncle is having severe mitral stenosis,and advised for MITRAL VALVE REPLACEMENT very soon.
and i want to know whether ayurveda can work in mitral stenosis so that we can avoid surgery.
i have took some ayurvedic doctor’s references but all are confusing me.
somebody says ayurveda definately will work on it and smbdy says ayurveda useless in mitral stenosis.
so sir plz advise me whether my uncle shud go for valve repcment surgery or not?

my uncle is having history of hysteria,rheumatic heart disease……and recentley he has gone under embolic stroke..

dr.vipul
+919879578551
and sir, MVR(MITRAL VALVE REPLACEMENT) surgery is safe?


Leave a Reply

Newest Community Post

Lisa says, " I wanted to check in as I’m almost 3 weeks post op"
Lisa's Journal

Kimberly says, " Well, my sleep study showed 7 apneas an hour and my"
Kimberly's Journal

David says, " Sorry if it's a redundant question. Has anybody"
David's Journal

Find Heart Valve Surgeons

Search 1,500 patient-recommended surgeons