After Lifelong Broken Heart, Kevin’s Mojo Returns
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Page last updated: March 3, 2025
The patient stories in our community touch, move and inspire me. This time, it was the wonderful patient success story of Kevin Hornaday that got me. So you know, Kevin has been a lifelong cardiac patient who was born a cardiac electrical issue. Then, at 12 years of age, his heart broke in a different way when his mother suddenly passed away to a suspected aortic aneurysm.
Kevin’s Heart Health Declines
Considering Kevin chose a career in law enforcement, he was committed to healthy lifestyle throughout his life. However, in 2017, Kevin required a pacemaker and his ejection fraction fell to 25 percent. A normal ejection fraction is between 55 to 70 percent. Then, in 2019, Dr. Marc Silver, a cardiologist at WakeMed in Raleigh, North Carolina, determined that Kevin also had an aortic root aneurysm.
“When I saw him,” Dr. Silver explains, “Kevin was in heart failure, and I turned the pacemaker off. I did an echocardiogram early in 2019 and noted an aortic aneurysm that I was following periodically. His ejection fraction recovered to normal shortly thereafter with pacemaker turned off but his heart rate was slow.”
By 2024, Kevin’s situation worsened. His aortic valve was damaged, his left ventricle started to enlarge, the aneurysm grew, and Kevin needed a biventricular pacemaker.
Dr. Judson Williams Gets Involved
Given the decline in Kevin’s cardiac function, he was referred to Dr. Judson Williams, a leading cardiac surgeon at WakeMed, who was instrumental in developing the Enhanced Recovery After Cardiac Surgery (ERAS) Protocol.
On April 18, 2024, Dr. Judson performed an aortic valve and aortic aneurysm replacement. “Both the aortic valve and the proximal aorta to the aortic arch were stretched thin,” shares Dr. Williams, “causing both severe leakage of the valve and aneurysm of the aorta at risk for rupture.”
Kevin says of his experience going into surgery, “I was eager to get it done and get back to refereeing basketball. I’d been doing it for our church league for three years, and I was excited about having a healthy heart and getting back in the game.”
The surgery took about four hours and was a success. Woo-Hoo!!!
Cardiac Rehab Ignites Kevin’s Cardiac Mojo
I am happy to report that Dr. Williams recommended cardiac rehabilitation classes to ensure Kevin’s recovery stayed on track. (As many of you know, I am a huge advocate of cardiac rehabilitation as it provides so many physical, emotional and social benefits to patients.)
“I did cardiac rehab three times a week. Each session was an hour and a half. It included nutrition with a spectacular dietitian. I would also cycle, strength train, use the treadmill and walk the track to build my stamina. As to therapists, they were all welcoming, easygoing and phenomenal with a holistic approach. Since I completed rehab, I now walk two miles, six days a week and love it. I can’t wait to get back on the basketball court.”
Go Kevin! Thanks Dr. Silver, Dr. Williams and WakeMed!
Congratulations to Kevin, his friends, his family, Dr. Silver, Dr. Williams and the entire WakeMed team for sharing this wonderful patient success story with me. I am so happy that Kevin is feeling better and on his way to a complete recovery!
Related Links:
- See Dr. Judson Williams Interactive Surgeon Profile
- Surgeon Q&A: Enhanced Recovery After Cardiac Surgery
- Explore the WakeMed Heart Valve Microsite
- Read “Born with a Broken Heart: Kevin’s Story”
Keep on tickin’ Kevin!
Adam
Written by Adam Pick
- Patient & Website Founder
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