{"id":39822,"date":"2024-12-19T12:51:44","date_gmt":"2024-12-19T17:51:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.heart-valve-surgery.com\/heart-surgery-blog\/?p=39822"},"modified":"2024-12-20T18:01:40","modified_gmt":"2024-12-20T23:01:40","slug":"19-year-anniversary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.heart-valve-surgery.com\/heart-surgery-blog\/2024\/12\/19\/19-year-anniversary\/","title":{"rendered":"My 19th Heart Valve Surgery Anniversary!"},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s hard to believe.<\/p>\n

This coming Saturday, December 21, I will celebrate my 19th anniversary of heart valve surgery. I am so incredibly thankful that I had a successful Ross Procedure<\/a> performed by Dr. Vaughn Starnes<\/a> at Keck Medicine of USC in Los Angeles. Since my operation, I have had no cardiac issues. None. In fact, at my last echocardiogram, my technician said to me, “This is amazing. Your valves look perfect.”<\/p>\n

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\"Adam
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In addition to being thankful for my fixed heart, I am thankful for the “second chance at life” this unexpected and unwanted health condition created for me.\u00a0 For the past 19 years, I have done my best to seize each day as an opportunity for adventure, personal growth and learning. Over the last 19 years, I see things a bit more clearly. I get frustrated less. I smile more. Many of those smiles come from helping others.<\/p>\n

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\"Dr.<\/a>
\nDr. Vaughn Starnes (My Surgeon)<\/a><\/p>\n

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HeartValveSurgery.com is a big part of my commitment to helping others in their time of need.\u00a0 Since launching this website, I have been fortunate to meet and partner with others similar to me.\u00a0 As a result, this website has transformed into a vibrant community of people<\/a> that have come together to support each other.<\/p>\n

I still can’t believe how much we’ve grown over the years.<\/p>\n

From a tiny 3-page website in 2006, HeartValveSurgery.com has evolved into the world’s largest educational resource for patients with over 20,000 pages of content.\u00a0 And, our patient community has gone global with more than 550,000 social media followers<\/a>.\u00a0 Lastly, I never thought HeartValveSurgery.com would be sponsoring the life-saving cardiac surgeries of children<\/a> in third-world countries. Here is a photo of Nsimire who we recently helped in Uganda.<\/p>\n

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\"Nsimire<\/p>\n

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All along, the mission has remained constant… To educate and to empower patients with heart valve disease.<\/p>\n

As I write these words, I am shaking my head in disbelief and thankfulness. What an adventure this has been!!!<\/p>\n

On behalf of Robyn, my wife, and Ethan, my son, many thanks to everybody in this community including the patients, their families, their friends, doctors, physician assistants, nurses, hospitals, medical companies, research organizations and our sponsors.\u00a0 I am so lucky to know, support and\/or work with all of you!<\/p>\n

Related Links:<\/p>\n