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By Adam Pick

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John Warns You About Tissue Valve Complications

Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: May 19, 2025

I received a very interesting note from John Bryan, a heart valve patient. I share John’s story not to scare you but rather to educate you specific to the realities of valvular defects, heart valve replacement durability, and cardiac monitoring.

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After Ross Procedure, David Teaches Dr. El-Hamamsy the Harmonica

Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: May 14, 2025

What happened after David Herzhaft, an aortic valve patient from Idaho, had a successful Ross Procedure performed by Dr. Ismail El-Hamamsy at Mount Sinai in New York City?

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TAVR Powers Richard To Mount Whitney Peak

Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: May 8, 2025

I LOVE getting inspirational updates from heart patients all over the world.

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Ed Salutes Dr. Gillinov After Crossing Antarctic Circle

Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: April 30, 2025

Hearing from patients about their heart valve surgery journey is my favorite part of running this website.

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Tammi’s 10-Year Heart Valve Anniversary!

Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: April 24, 2025

How good can life be 10 years after successful heart valve surgery by Dr. Robert Saeid Farivar?

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Dottie’s Travel Alert for TAVR Patients

Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: April 2, 2025

Are you planning to travel this spring or summer? If you are a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) recipient, don’t be alarmed if you unexpectedly set off the airport security system.

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123 Days After Heart Valve Surgery, Justin Runs a Marathon!

Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: March 20, 2025

I’ve said it before and I look forward to saying it again… The patient success stories from the courageous members in our community are downright extraordinary.

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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.

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Just 24 Hours After TAVR, Rick Says…

Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: January 16, 2025

It’s been less than 24 hours since Rick Jerzak’s transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and I just received this update from him.

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Suzi Goes From Asymptomatic Nerves To Another Dr. Gillinov Success Story!

Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: December 4, 2024

It is amazing to see the physical, emotional and spiritual transformation that occurs in patients before-and-after heart valve surgery. For example, here is the patient story of Suzi Epstein, an asymptomatic patient who was unexpectedly diagnosed with severe mitral regurgitation.

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Patient Humor: Doug’s Ode To The Incentive Spirometer

Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: December 4, 2024

I never imagined this… But, thank the heavens for the fun and humor of patients in our online support community.

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Patient Spotlight: Lisa, Blue Socks & Mountain Biking

Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: November 20, 2024

Hearing from patients in our Community about their heart valve surgery success stories remains one of my favorite parts of running this website. This time, I heard from Lisa Letizio after her heart valve surgery.

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David’s Endocarditis Surprise & Weight Loss Journey

Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: November 13, 2024

I just received a great patient story from David Monasterski who is a new member of our community. After connecting with David at our YouTube Channel, he shared a very insightful story with me about bacterial endocarditis, aortic valve leaflet holes, the importance of second opinions, his weight loss journey and more.

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In Uganda, We Help Nsimire Get Life-Saving Heart Surgery!

Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: October 23, 2024

I am incredibly happy to share that… Thanks to the support of this community and our amazing partner, Gift of Life International, we just helped Nsimire, a courageous 8-year old girl, undergo a life-saving cardiac procedure in Uganda!!!

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Patient Insight: 10 Spiritual Lessons I Learned From Heart Surgery

Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: October 2, 2024

The patients in our heart valve community never cease to amaze me. I could ramble on about what I just received in my inbox from Cuauhtemoc Velazquez, a patient from Toronto, Canada. Instead, I will simply provide you this wonderful opportunity to watch an extraordinary video that Cuauhtemoc shared with me titled, “10 Spiritual Lessons I Learned From Heart Surgery”.

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Patient Alert: David Warns You About Cardiac Amyloidosis

Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: September 26, 2024

Since starting HeartValveSurgery.com nearly twenty years ago, I have learned a lot about the heart. However, it was not until I received this email from David Cattell, a heart valve patient in our community, that I became aware of an under-diagnosed condition known as cardiac amyloidosis. Many thanks to David for sharing his story and his research below.

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In Uganda, Patrick Readies for Heart Valve Surgery Thanks to You!

Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: July 7, 2024

Wonderful news!!!

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NHL Superstar, Henrik Lundqvist, Interviews His Heart Surgeon, Dr. Eric Roselli

Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: June 6, 2024

Henrik Lundqvist, the NHL superstar goalie of the New York Rangers, is doing an extraordinary job raising awareness to heart valve disease and aortic aneurysms.

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