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:

Keep on tickin' Donna!
Adam

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

Comments

New Posts From Our Community

Adam Pick - Heart Valve Patient

Adam Pick from
Torrance, California

Hi there! As part of the new update to our community,...

Meet Adam
Katheleen Luz - Heart Valve Patient

Katheleen Luz from
Torrance, California

15 days Post OHS. With my Surgeon, Dr. Pedro Catarino of...

Meet Katheleen
Carol Coats - Heart Valve Patient

Carol Coats from
Scottsdale

I have severe mitral valve prolapse. I was scheduled to have...

Meet Carol

Newest Community Post

Adam Pick - Heart Valve Patient

Adam Pick from
Torrance, California

Hi there! As part of the new update to our community,...

Meet Adam
Find Heart Valve Surgeons

Find Heart Valve Surgeons

Search 1,500 patient-recommended surgeons

Heart Hospital Map

Heart Hospital Map

Search for heart hospitals that specialize in heart valve treatment.

Surgeon Spotlight

Dr. Christopher Heid is a leading cardiac surgeon at UT Southwestern in Dallas, Texas who specializes in heart valve repair and replacement operations.