Adam's Heart Valve Surgery Blog – Page 13
Traver’s Fixed Heart Returns Home to Uganda!!!
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: June 29, 2021
It is with a BIG smile on my face that I am posting these words.
Thanks to your support of HeartValveSurgery.com, I am happy to share that Traver just arrived home in Uganda after his complex cardiac surgery in Israel!!! Woo-Whoo!!! Yay!!!! Mission accomplished!!!!
I just received the following pictures. Here is Traver at home with his family in their Ugandan village.
Patient Webinar: Surgical vs. Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: June 28, 2021
I’m excited to announce that our LIVE and FREE patient education events continue this Thursday, July 1, with a special webinar, “Surgical vs. Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: What Should Patients Know?” Featured speakers include Dr. Charles Davidson, Professor of Cardiology, and Dr. Chris Malaisrie, Professor of Cardiac Surgery, at Northwestern Medicine. This one-hour webinar will start at 5pm CST.
TAVR Innovation: Navitor Gets CE Mark Approval in Europe
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Page last updated: June 11, 2021
The use of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) devices for the treatment of aortic stenosis has soared in recent years.
Prior to COVID-19… TAVR devices were growing at double-digit compounded annual growth rates as sales grew to over $2 billion worldwide in 2019, according to Medical Device Network. At HeartValveSurgery.com, patient interest in educational content – exclusively about TAVR – jumped 627% across our servers from 2019 to 2020.
Alex Toussaint, Peloton Instructor, Sends Empowering “Shout-Out” to Heart Valve Patients
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Page last updated: June 12, 2021
I’m a bit addicted to our Peloton.
This next-gen athletic gear has completely transformed my approach to fitness. I feel great. I have more energy. Thankfully, as someone who has struggled with insomnia, I now sleep like a baby. And, I’ve unexpectedly lost 12 pounds.
One of the fun parts of riding a Peloton is when an instructor sends a live “shout-out” to a community member during class. So far, I’ve been fortunate to score shout-outs from Robin Arzon and Jess King.
I’m happy to share that on my recent 800th ride, I got a shout-out from the one-and-only Alex Toussaint. As you may already know, Alex is an extremely motivational coach who inspires students with uplifting catch phrases (Feel Good! Look Good! Do Better!), innovative classes (e.g., the Last Dance and Ride to Greatness) and honest perspectives on the challenges we all face on a day-to-day basis.
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!!!
As you might recall… In January, the HeartValveSurgery.com community sponsored the much-needed surgery of Traver, a courageous 2-year old boy from a small village in Uganda, who was suffering from a life-threatening form of heart disease.
Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, Traver’s surgery was delayed by several months. Watch the video below to see Traver’s latest update!
SUMMIT Clinical Trial Now Enrolling Mitral Valve Patients!
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Page last updated: November 29, 2022; This post is sponsored by Abbott.
Why is the SUMMIT Clinical Trial such a big deal for millions of mitral valve patients who have limited treatment options?
Watch this educational video to learn about the new SUMMIT Clinical Trial that will evaluate the Tendyne™ Mitral Valve System that replaces the patient’s defective mitral valve without an incision to the patient’s sternum. The Tendyne™ therapy is a minimally-invasive alternative to open-heart surgery that does not require the patient to be on the heart-lung machine.
We Achieve #1 Ranking on Feedspot’s Top 60 Heart Websites!
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Page last updated: May 24, 2021
Dear Patients & Friends,
This is unexpected!!!
I am happy and honored to announce that HeartValveSurgery.com just achieved the #1 ranking on Feedspot’s Top 60 Heart Websites!!!
Patient Webinar: “The 5 Myths of Heart Valve Surgery” with Dr. Gerdisch & Me
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Page last updated: May 22, 2021
[Update: With over 600 patient registrations, the “5 Myths of Heart Valve Surgery” webinar was fantastic. You can now watch the “5 Myths of Heart Valve Surgery” webinar video or download the free eBook at this link.]
I’m excited to announce that our LIVE and FREE patient education events continue today, Thursday, May 20, with a special webinar, “5 Myths of Heart Valve Surgery”. The featured speaker for this event is Dr. Marc Gerdisch, Chief of Cardiac Surgery at Franciscan Health, who has performed over 4,000 heart valve operations. The one-hour webinar will start at 6pm EST.
Medtronic Invites Patient Advocate to Speak at ACC Symposium
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: May 8, 2021
On behalf of our global heart valve community, I want to thank Medtronic, one of the world’s largest medical companies and a leading heart valve manufacturer, for the special invitation to speak at the upcoming American College of Cardiology’s 70th Annual Scientific Session & Expo!!!
The “I’m Back” Recovery Shirt Empowers Heart Surgery Patients! Thanks Josh!
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: May 6, 2021
Many, many, many thanks to Josh Nowack for sending me this wonderful “I’m Back” recovery t-shirt!
Ari & Dr. Roselli Form Special Heart Valve Surgery Bond!
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Medical Expert: Eric Roselli, MD, Chief of Adult Cardiac Surgery, Cleveland Clinic
Published: April 23, 2021
I am beyond happy to share that Ari Mintzer, 46, just had a successful aortic valve re-operation at the Cleveland Clinic on Tuesday. So you know, Ari needed a “re-do” because his 14-year old tissue valve was failing from aortic stenosis and regurgitation.
“Is Mitral Regurgitation & Calcification Common After Mitral Valve Repair Surgery?” asks Linda
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Medical Expert: Junaid Khan, MD, Medical Director, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center
Page Last Updated: May 6, 2021
I just received a great question from Linda about the recurrence of mitral regurgitation, a leaky heart valve, and calcification after mitral valve repair surgery. In her note to me, Linda asked, “I had mitral valve repair about 2 years ago and now I’ve developed regurgitation again. Also part of the valve is calcified. I am curious if this is common?”
After COVID-19 Delay, Little Traver Prepares for Heart Surgery Journey!
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: April 7, 2021
Heart Valve Experts Show Wonderful Support for Our Patient Community!
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: April 1, 2021
Unexpected!
After giving away our new HeartValveSurgery.com hats, I was asked by Dr. Allan Stewart if it was possible to make a “HVS scrub cap” for the doctors in our community. I thought it was a great idea. So, I contacted Griselda – my local embroidery guru – to see if she could make an HVS scrub cap.
Me (Adam) with Griselda (Lur Embroidery Owner)
Big News! REPAIR MR Clinical Trial Now Enrolling Patients!
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Page last updated: November 29, 2022
Why is the REPAIR MR Clinical Trial such a big deal for millions of heart disease patients with mitral valve regurgitation?
Watch this educational video to learn about the REPAIR MR Clinical Trial that will evaluate the minimally-invasive Abbott MitraClip™ Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair System for mitral regurgitation patients.
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!
Over at our Facebook page… Michael Morrison’s “Smiling Scar Selfie” has gone viral. In just three days, Michael’s picture inspired over 7,300 reactions (likes, wows, loves), 1,000+ patient comments, and more than 300 timeline shares.
COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility Widens As “Phase 1B Plus” Includes Heart Patients in Select States
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: March 15, 2021
Big news!!!
Several states have made the COVID-19 vaccines available to patients with heart conditions using a new “Phase 1B Plus” eligibility. Yes, you read that correctly!
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.
Here’s Marylin looking dang good in the hospital just 3 days after her mitral valve surgery.
Woo-Whoo! National Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day Is Today!
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: February 22, 2021
If you didn’t know… Today is National Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day!
This is a special day to raise awareness to the very under-diagnosed, the very under-treated, and the very deadly form of heart disease!
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.
In this video, Donna shares her extraordinary journey to a healthy heart that included surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) and a Medtronic transcatheter aortic valve re-replacement (TAVR) during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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