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12 Years Later, I'm Still Tickin'

By Adam Pick on December 21, 2017

It's hard to believe... 12 years ago...

At this very moment, I was being wheeled into an operating room at the University of Southern California where Dr. Vaughn Starnes and his team would perform a Ross Procedure to fix my heart that suffered from a bicuspid aortic valve with stenosis and regurgitation.

Heart valve patient celebrates 12th heart valve surgery anniversary with wife and son

Since December 21, 2005, I have learned so much. Thanks to this website, which I started in 2006 to educate and empower patients, I have learned so much about the four valves that open-and-close billions of times during each human life. I have learned so much about the dedicated medical teams that are committed to helping patients fight this misunderstood disease. I have learned so much about the heart valve repair and replacement devices that transform valvular function from inefficiency to normalcy.

Most importantly, I have learned so much about you - the patients, the families and the friends - that joined this community. Your endless support of each other in good times and in difficult situations continues to inspire me day-after-day-after day. Your willingness to be open... Your willingness to be honest... And, your willingness to care for one another is beyond touching.

HeartValveSurgery.com community members holding big red pillow

Lastly, I have learned about myself. 12 years ago my focus was me - my heart, my recovery, my life. Today, my focus is you - your heart, your recovery, your life. While I don't always get it right with the educational content shared and the services at HeartValveSurgery.com, I do exactly what my mom always taught me... To do my best.

These past 12 years have been a gift. These past 12 years have been on "borrowed" time. These past 12 years have lifted my heart and lifted my soul. The source of that is you. Your emails of appreciation. Your phone calls of thanks. Your invitations to connect here in the United States and abroad. Needless to say, this has been an amazing journey thanks to you.

Years ago... Robyn, my wife, gave me a stone with a thoughtful quote carved into it. The quote is from Rumi, a 13th-century Persian poet. The quote reads, "Everyone has been made for some particular work, and the desire for that work has been put in every heart."

I can not be more thankful for this "particular work" which I only started to understand 12 years ago.

Keep on tickin!
Adam

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Written by Adam Pick
Patient & Website Founder

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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