Home > Heart Surgery Blog > Patient Stories > My Cardiologist Was Absolutely Wrong!!!

My Cardiologist Was Absolutely Wrong!!!

Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Page Last Updated: February 28, 2025

Yikes! Ugh! Gasp! Ready to learn why patient education and patient advocacy is so important for patients with heart valve disease?

I almost fell out of my chair when I read this note from Gina Fiorentino, a mitral valve patient and community member, from San Francisco.

Heart valve disease patient with husband and dog

Gina, Michael (husband) and Rocco

Gina Writes To Me...

Hi Adam,

I'm five days out from mitral valve repair. I was just released from the hospital today!

It's very early in my recovery but I had to reach out and thank you for helping me through this process. Because of you, my prognosis and my LIFE has changed - much for the better!

As you may recall... Before I found your website, this past summer, I had been told by a cardiologist that my mitral valve prolapse had progressed. But, I was directed - by the cardiologist - to sit back and "wait for symptoms to become intolerable".

I was then told by my cardiologist that my mitral valve would eventually need to be... replaced. The cardiologist also casually informed me that since I was young, I would likely need multiple surgeries -- as valve replacements only last between "5 and 15 years".

Fast forward a few months... After I was able to regulate myself down from an exhaustively traumatic, high-anxiety response, I started doing research online. Of course, that quickly led me to reading about the possibility of MITRAL VALVE REPAIR, your book, the videos, and other valuable information via your community. I also learned about Dr. Luis Castro.

Dr. Luis Castro with his patient and medical team

Gina After Mitral Valve Repair Surgery (with Dr. Castro and team)

Like many others who have either been improperly diagnosed or not given the most current information, I assumed that my hospital didn't offer me a mitral valve repair because I "missed my window of opportunity" by not insisting for a new echocardiogram until 5 years after my original diagnosis. I wonder how many people have erroneously believed the valve replacement was inevitable because they didn't get a second opinion and/or trusted the information they had been given is accurate or up to date?

As I begin my recovery, I hope to find ways to give back and support other heart valve patients. I've already thought of sewing heart pillows, becoming an American Heart Association Ambassador. If you can think of more ways I can help on a larger scale, I'd love to start thinking about those as goals.

Lastly, if you are in the San Francisco Bay area anytime in the near future, my husband and I would love to treat you to dinner.

Thank you "literally" from the bottom of my newly mended heart. :)

Gina

Leave a Comment | See 5 Comments | Get Adam's Free Newsletter

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.

Follow 450K