Barry's Profile

In January 1988, at age 26, I had my aortic valve replaced with a mechanical St. Jude valve at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. I have been taking warfarin for more than 38 years, and at 64, I’m living a happy, healthy, active life. I now exercise six days a week on my Peloton bike and treadmill and do strength training three days a week. I also see my cardiologist at the University of Maryland Hospital every six months and have an echocardiogram every two or three years. In 2017, a routine dental visit led to an unexpected discovery. My dentist checks every patient’s blood pressure before a cleaning, and mine was unusually high. At first, I brushed it off, but my wife kept encouraging me to see my cardiologist right away. I was able to get an appointment as soon as possible, and testing revealed an aortic aneurysm. I was stunned, especially knowing I would need another major surgery. Once again, we put our trust in Johns Hopkins. In May 2017, I underwent surgery to replace the affected section of my aorta with a Dacron graft. During the operation, the surgical team also found and removed significant scar tissue around my St. Jude valve to help it continue functioning effectively. The surgery was successful. Three days later, I developed atrial fibrillation, but the attentive medical team brought it under control quickly. Looking back, I am grateful for my dentist’s vigilance, my wife’s persistence, and the care I received at Hopkins. Most of all, I am thankful for my family’s love and support and for the life we continue to enjoy together. Every day is a blessing.