Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai

In August 2009, I was on a walk while vacationing in Idyllwild, California when I started to experience shortness of breath. I was rushed to Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage where I was officially diagnosed with mitral regurgitation and atrial fibrillation.

As for surgically treating the mitral valve, my family was told that someone of my age was “high risk” with a potential 40% mortality rate during open heart surgery. Like many other high-risk patients, I was released from the hospital and went home under the care of my local cardiologist. At the time, I had no idea what the MitraClip was.

It was easier than having the TEE performed. According to the FDA protocol, I was admitted the day of the procedure. I left the hospital about 24 hours later. The team at Cedars-Sinai used two MitraClips to reduce the mitral regurgitation from severe to mild.

For me, I believe the MitraClip should be called the “MiracleClip”. As the people around me will attest, I was falling fast before this procedure. The other day, I was at the Santa Monica Farmer’s Market picking fresh fruits and vegetables. All in all, I’m very grateful for my supportive family and the incredible team of doctors who saved my life.

Kato Pomer, 92

I recently celebrated my third anniversary from mitral valve repair surgery. I now have a strong beating heart with no leakage or murmur for the first time in my life. So you know, I was born with a heart murmur in 1965. Since then, I had been actively monitoring the valve. It took 44 years but the severity of the mitral regurgitation progressed to the point that I needed surgery.

The very kind and very generous Doctor Alfredo Trento at Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute repaired my mitral valve using the minimally invasive procedure with the DaVinci robot. While others turned me down for the operation, Dr. Trento and his team found a way to make it happen. I believe that Dr. Trento and this procedure was a blessing in my life. I am forever grateful.

Patricia Shabel