Patient Stories Blog
By Adam Pick
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!!!
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”.
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.
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!!!
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.
Patient Update: Koert Travels from California to New York for a Ross Procedure by Dr. Paul Stelzer
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: May 19, 2024
Hearing from patients about their heart valve success stories is my favorite part of running the HeartValveSurgery.com community.
Guest Post: Lynn’s 5 Lessons Learned for Complex Mitral Valve Surgery
Written by: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: April 22, 2024
I’ve said it before and I look forward to saying it again…
New Video: Bono’s Heart Valve Success Story!
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: March 21, 2024
If you didn’t know… Bono, U2’s lead singer, revealed in the first chapter of his book, Surrender, that he underwent a complex heart valve and aortic aneurysm surgery in 2016. It turns out that Dr. David Adams, a leading cardiac surgeon and friend of our community, performed Bono’s surgery.
In Uganda, I Am Thankful for Mohammed’s Life-Saving Surgery
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: November 23, 2023
I am happy to share that Mohammed, a courageous 14-year-old boy from Uganda who suffered from severe mitral valve regurgitation, just had successful heart surgery.
Susan Is Thankful for Her Three Sons, Dr. Frank, Rush University & Her Cow Valve Replacement
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: November 23, 2023
With Thanksgiving upon us, it was great to receive this note from Susan about her health, her three sons and her cow valve.
