Patient Stories Blog - Page 3
By Adam Pick
Married Couple Share Unexpected Heart Surgery Bond!
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: September 20, 2021
The stories in our Patient Community just get better-and-better!
Little Traver Finally Gets Life-Saving Heart Surgery!!!
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Page last updated: June 9, 2021
Yes!!! I have an update about Traver!!!
After COVID-19 Delay, Little Traver Prepares for Heart Surgery Journey!
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: April 7, 2021
Yes! We have a new surgery update to share about Traver!
With 6,300 Facebook Likes, Michael Inspires Heart Valve Patients Around the World!
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: March 30, 2021
Holy Moly!
After Heart Surgery, Marylin Celebrates Her 70th Birthday!
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: March 10, 2021
Congrats to Marylin Canon, a mitral valve patient in the HeartValveSurgery.com community, who celebrated her 70th birthday with yummy sweets and a new HVS hat.
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.
Traver Readies for Heart Surgery Thanks to Gift of Life & You!
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: January 8, 2021
To keep 2021 going in the right direction, I have some joyful news to share with the HeartValveSurgery.com community.
Tapan “2.0” Rises After Heart Valve Surgery!
By Adam Pick on August 17, 2020
It never gets old. The joy. The happiness. That special feeling when I open my email and see a patient success story from the HeartValveSurgery.com community.
Mother & Son Share Special Heart Surgery Bond Thanks to Dr. Marc Gillinov!
By Adam Pick on June 17, 2020
There is nothing better than an extraordinary patient success story. For example, this story of Kathy Chelton, Carter Chelton (her son), and Dr. Marc Gillinov (their surgeon) made me smile from ear-to-ear. Here is what Kathy, from Liberty, Missouri, wrote to me:
After Heart Surgery, Frank Wins Pickleball Silver Medal At National Championships
By Adam Pick on April 15, 2020
I love when patients in our community send me their success stories. For example, Frank Collura just brought a smile to my face. Here’s what Frank emailed me:
In These Difficult Times… John & Larry Inspire Us
By Adam Pick on March 21, 2020
During these challenging times of uncertainty, confusion and disbelief caused by COVID-19, I was lucky to just experience an unexpected and inspirational moment thanks to John Roland and Larry Manshel.
10-Year Heart Surgery Anniversary Reunion in Florida!
By Adam Pick on February 27, 2020
My heart warms anytime the patients in our community connect in person. I love seeing their smiling faces. I love seeing their hugs. I love knowing that their friendships continue into the future as their valve disease fades to the past.
After Heart Surgery… John, His Robe & His Yellow Socks Inspire 4,700 Facebook Likes!
By Adam Pick on January 14, 2020
Thanks to John O’Neill, the new year could not have started any better for our community.
Guest Blog: 6 Years After Heart Valve Surgery, Jim is a Track-and-Field Success!
By Adam Pick on November 12, 2019
The favorite part of my work as a patient advocate is connecting with the wonderful patients in our community.
Skydiver, Bill Legard, Jumps For An Edwards INSPIRIS RESILIA Heart Valve Replacement
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Page Last Updated: May 11, 2025
Bill Legard is a very active 59-year old. He’s a skydiver, a pilot, an entrepreneur and Bill makes parachutes for a living. On a recent hike in Indonesia, Bill struggled with shortness of breath. His cardiologist diagnosed Bill with severe aortic stenosis, a life-threatening form of heart valve disease.
Tennis Enthusiast, John Persinger, Celebrates Surgeon with “Team Gerdisch” T-Shirts!
By Adam Pick on August 6, 2019
Shortly after sharing this post about a cow valve replacement t-shirt, our Facebook page went bonkers with over 1,600 Facebook Likes.
Susan & Her INSPIRIS RESILIA Valve Go Viral!
By Adam Pick on August 1, 2019
The support and the encouragement that the patients in our community provide each other is simply amazing!
Move Over Taylor Swift! David Sets New Fashion Trend!
By Adam Pick on June 20, 2019
Ya just gotta see it… To love it.
Yoga Enthusiast, Jean Frank, Is Our 1st Low-Risk TAVR Patient Success Story!
By Adam Pick on May 16, 2019
With all the great results coming out about the low-risk TAVR clinical trials, I am very excited to share the patient success story of Jean Frank.
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