Valve Day Patient Spotlight: From Tragedy to TAVR Triumph, This Is Donna’s Story
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: February 22, 2021
Donna Hartley has struggled with many health challenges during her life – malnourishment, heart disease, a plane crash, cancer and then… more heart disease.
In this video, Donna shares her extraordinary journey to a healthy heart that included surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) and a Medtronic transcatheter aortic valve re-replacement (TAVR) during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Donna shares several important facts and considerations about heart valve surgery in this video including being your own best patient advocate, researching your surgeon/cardiologist/medical team, having a positive attitude, and setting goals for an enhanced recovery.
Donna received her TAVR Valve-in-Valve at El Camino Health under the direct care of Dr. Vincent Gaudiani (surgeon) and Dr. Chad Rammohan (interventional cardiologist).
Related Heart Valve Day Articles:
- Woo-Whoo! National Heart Valve Disease Day Starts Now!
- Top 5 Facts: Managing Heart Valve Disease Amidst COVID-19
- New ACC/AHA Guidelines Suggests “Shared Decisions” By Patients & Doctors
- Valve Day Giveaway: 10 Free HVS Hats
Keep on tickin’ Donna!
Adam
Written by Adam Pick
- Patient & Website Founder
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Surgeon Spotlight
Dr. Vinay Badhwar is a world-renowned cardiac surgeon that has performed over 3,000 heart valve operations that include minimally-invasive techniques.
