Patient Stories Blog – Page 7

In 2010, we donated $5,000 to the Gift of Life to help pay for the cardiac surgery of Victor Saravia, an incredibly cute, one-year old boy from El Salvador. The procedure -- that was performed by Dr. John Morales at Driscoll Hospital at Corpus Cristi, Texas -- was a success and Victor went home to his family.

This is just great.

The joy I experienced on Day One of the Medical Mission amplified on the second day -- as two patients, with severely leaking heart valves, underwent mitral valve repair surgery in the Dominican Republic.

Over the years, I have been very fortunate to know Sara Bloomfield. I first shared Sara's story in 2011 -- after Sara and her husband, Matt, became pregnant while closely monitoring her bicuspid aortic valve, dilated aorta and coarctation of the descending aorta. Then, in 2012, we celebrated the birth of their daughter, Olivia.

I just received another patient success story. In this update, Robert Green, celebrates his 5th anniversary after a re-implantation of his aortic valve and aortic root replacement. (The procedure is also known as a valve-sparing operation or a David Procedure.)

Since launching this website 6 years ago, Mitch Friedman has stood out as an extraordinary members of patient and caregiver community. As many of you know, Mitch has provided both on-line and off-line support to many, many, many patients searching for answers and guidance about heart valve surgery.

The patient success stories and surgeon testimonials continue to roll in. This time, Angie Gregory sent me a fantastic update following her mitral valve repair surgery.

I just received a great, 3-year anniversary update from Patricia Shabel of Los Angeles, California. Patricia had a mitral valve repair operation after being diagnosed with a heart murmur and a leaky valve over 40 years ago.

Since launching this website 6 years ago, the patients within our community have touched, moved and inspired me with their extraordinary stories.

There's nothing better than opening an email and reading a patient success story.

I've said it before and, hopefully, I will be saying it again.... I love hearing from the patients in our community after their surgeries!

Hearing from you -- the patients and caregivers of our community -- continues to be my favorite part of running this website. That said, I just received a great patient success story from Jeff Adams of Seattle, Washington.

I wanted to extend a big "Happy Anniversary!" to Robert Anderson from Groton, Massachusetts. As you can read in his note below, Robert had a congenital bicuspid aortic valve that needed to be replaced. Here is more from Robert about his journey and his celebration:

My inbox continues to receive success stories from patients all over the world -- especially after Theresa's recent post.

First, it was Jim and Jeff at Mount Sinai. Then, it was Cheryl and the Florida Valve Reunion. Next, it was Tom and Trent at The Heart Hospital. This time, it's Denise and Connie at the Cleveland Clinic.

In addition to talking with patients, I'm often afforded the privilege of speaking with their caregivers. Over the past several months, I've been trading emails and chatting on the phone with Deb. Her husband, Fred, was recently diagnosed with a severely leaking mitral valve.

It continues to amaze me how Heart Valve Journals is connecting patients online and offline.

Over the years, I have been fortunate to meet several extraordinary patients. One such patient is Kato Pomer from Los Angeles, California.

I just learned that Max Page, the 7-year old actor who played 'Little Darth Vader' in a viral Volkswagen commercial, is recovering from pulmonary heart valve replacement surgery.

There are no words for what you are about to see... For what is about to occur...