60 Minutes After TAVR, Harolyn Looks This Good!

By Adam Pick on May 10, 2018

On January 10, 2017…

I received a phone call from Harolyn, an aortic stenosis patient, from Springfield, Missouri.  Like so many patients I speak with, Harolyn was a bit nervous, a bit concerned and a bit apprehensive about the possibility of heart valve surgery in her life.  So you know, Harolyn was no stranger to disease.  She already had 3 bouts with cancer that required radiation and chemotherapy.

As we spoke, I did my best to calm her fears and educate Harolyn about potential treatment options.  The more we spoke, the more I learned that Harolyn was her own best advocate.  She had already spent time on HeartValveSurgery.com – educating herself about aortic stenosis and the minimally invasive therapies that might treat her narrow aortic valve.

 

Harolyn, TAVR Patient, with Dr. Brown & Dr. Mack

 

She said to me, “Adam, I watched your video about transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) with Dr. Micheal Mack.  That sounds really interesting.  I’m willing to travel for that.”

Long story short… I sent an email to Dr. Michael Mack.  So you know, Dr. Mack is one of the leading TAVR specialists in the world.  Guess what?  Dr. Mack actually picked up the phone and called Harolyn.  No joke!  Fourteen months later, after Harolyn’s aortic stenosis progressed to severe, she had a TAVR at The Heart Hospital Baylor Plano with Dr. Mack and Dr. Brown in Texas.  Fyi, that happened yesterday!!!

I have to admit. Harolyn, who is 78 years young, looks pretty darn good for just having her aortic valve replaced.

Many thanks to Harolyn for sharing her experience with me.  I am so happy she is on her way to recovery.  And, many thanks to Dr. Mack, Dr. Brown and The Heart Hospital Baylor Plano team for taking care of Harolyn and her family!!!

Keep on tickin’ Harolyn!
Adam

 


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.


Harolyn Link says on May 13th, 2018 at 2:35 pm

Adam, I am so happy that I called you last year to order your book (it was full of helpful info.that helped me a lot). You were so nice and interested in my situation. I couldn’t believe it when you said you would contact Dr. Mack—what a gift! Thanks again, so much. Then for Dr. Mack to call me…WOW, and he is every bit as nice as you said he would be.

Dr. Mack, Dr. Brown and the whole team were wonderful and they said my procedure could not have gone better. They were so kind and caring, as was everyone at the hospital. Dr Mack even asked what they could do better…well, he could have waited until I put on some make-up before taking a picture. LOL. Seriously, I can’t think of one thing that needed improvement. I would definitely recommend Dr. Mack and his team and Baylor Heart Hospital, Plano, Tx to anyone facing heart surgery-they are among the very best. In my estimation they are The Best!!! Thankful to God for leading me there.!!!

Harolyn Link



Adam says on May 14th, 2018 at 4:50 pm

Harolyn,

You just made my day, my month, my year!!!!

I am SOOOOO HAPPY that you were taken care of by Dr. Mack, Dr. Brown and the team at The Heart Hospital Baylor Plano.

And, THANK YOU for letting me be of service to you on your journey to a healthy heart. It is privilege and gift to know you!!!!

🙂

Keep on tickin!
Adam



Harolyn Link says on May 14th, 2018 at 6:32 pm

Adam, the privilege is definitely mine. You were so kind and generous with your time, I couldn’t believe that you would call Dr. Mack for someone who just happened to call you…and that Dr. Mack would call me!
Developing this site was a God send for ALL of us who use it. Thank you from the bottom of my much improved Heart. God’s best to you always!!!



Anna M Thomas says on July 23rd, 2018 at 4:31 am

Harolyn & Adam!

This is so exciting for me to see!!! While I see other physicians in Springfield Harolyn, like you, I found heartvalvesurgery.com after consults at Cox and Barnes and had my surgery at Mt. Sinai.

I am continually spreading the message about this site and the wonderful work he does and all the amazing surgeons on here. It’s such an inspiring thing, as well, to know that more people are doing their own in depth research and taking control of their health! Fantastic!!!

How very exciting to see somebody from my “neck of the woods” on here and not surprisingly with a great success story! God bless you and continued blessings for future health!

Anna M. Thomas
(My profile has Thomasq, I believe. 😊 )


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