Bob's Guestbook

Hi Bob, From California sunshine to Colorado snow & mountains!!! Life is Grand!!! Best wishes for your recovery journey!! This site is very beneficial. Remember, no shoveling for you. A smooth recovery= spring fishing!!!

Hi Bob, Hope all is going well for you. Dr Castro and team did my aortic valve replacement July 2, 2014. I also opted for the porcine valve. I am sure they are taking good care of you. The first month or so are definitely a lot of work, but you will be back fishing before you know it! My husband is the fly fisherman in our family, but I am definitely strong enough now to participate. Wishing you a smooth recovery!

Prayers are with you Bob for successful surgery and quick recovery. I am 8 months out from aortic root aneurysm repair and aortic valve replacement. I went with the mechanical valve and I am still trying to figure out how to regulate my PT\INR, but after having the surgery, I am glad I went with the mechanical valve. Don't want to have my chest split a 2nd time. I am 54 years old and figure when I am 70- 80 years old, it will be a lot harder\longer recovery.

Great choice of Dr Castro and team! They saved my life and replaced my aortic valve one year ago ! I am 80 years old so in 20 years will have Dr Castro repeat !

Bob I pray your operation went well.I had aortic valve put in feb 2010 at 67 and at 72 I work out 6 days week.Bob I wish more people on this site would say what kind of valve they chose and why.I know it tough to choose but Bob I'm sure you chose what was right for you. Good Luck Pete

Hi. I'm living in South Wales UK and would like to wish you the very best for your op. I will have to have the op at some point but just being monitored closely at the moment. I'm sure you're in very good hands and having found this supportive website and you've obviously found some fantastic medical care, I'm sure you'll be fishing again very very soon. Good luck.

Bob, I'm sure everything went great your procedure today, as Dr. Castro and company are the best. I was blessed to have Dr.Castro replace my aortic valve and root. You'll be out fishing before you know it. Positive thoughts on a speedy recovery.

Best of luck to you , Bob! I am from Louisville, CO and had AVR replacement (bovine tissue) as well as mitral and tricuspid repairs two years ago in boulder at BCH. My surgeon was great but he suffered a stroke last year and not practicing any longer. I will need surgery again on the mitral valve as it is still leaking but I think I would want to do it at Cleveland Clinic or Mt Sinai or some other major heart center where the surgeons do thousands of these operations. I hope all goes well with you, take good care! Marion

Hello Bob, You've made a great choice with Dr. Castro! He repaired my mitral valve on 12/26/14, with Dr. Adam Harmon assisting. They were both so wonderful to me & my husband! I just cannot say enough about their expertise, kindness & compassion. The ICU nurses were amazing too, absolutely top notch professionals who love Sequoia. I know you're coming from quite a distance & I understand that completely. I live in a rural, small northern Calif. town about 5.5 hrs from Redwood City. Given the one option available where I live--a 10" incision with a high possibility of valve being replacement--I couldn't be happier with Luis's 3.5" mini sternotomy & valve repair. I'm not saying it was an easy recovery road, but I truly do shudder to think what kind of shape I'd be in today if I hadn't chosen Dr. Castro to be the one to leave his fingerprints on my heart 6 short weeks ago. I'll be thinking of you & sending good thoughts & prayers your way next week. Take care, Jenni

Bob, you appear to be a fly-fisherman! That is my passion in addition to my wife! I had my aortic and mitral valve repaired back on December 16th, 2014. I am doing fantastic and go back to work next week. All I can say is hang in there and you'll do great! Today's technology is awesome and it is amazing what they can do! All the best to you for a successful procedure and fast and total recovery!