About Me (In My Own Words)
I am 26 years old and was born with congenital heart disease. When I was about one year old, I had open-heart surgery through a sternotomy to treat pulmonary valve stenosis. After that, I lived a mostly normal life and had very few noticeable symptoms, so I did not keep up with regular cardiac follow-up as closely as I should have.
In 2025, I decided to have my heart checked again. I then learned that I had developed severe pulmonary regurgitation, pulmonary stenosis, severe tricuspid regurgitation, and significant right ventricular enlargement. I was surprised because I did not feel very sick, but my doctors explained that surgery was needed to prevent further damage to my heart.
On April 22, 2026, I had redo open-heart surgery with Dr. Jordan Bloom. I underwent pulmonary valve replacement with a 26 mm gender-matched acellular pulmonary homograft, tricuspid valve repair with a 28 mm Physio ring, and PFO closure. The surgery went well, and I am now recovering.
My most recent update is that I developed a postoperative pleural effusion. I have been having a frequent dry cough and am scheduled for drainage. This has made me anxious, because I am not sure whether it is simply part of the normal recovery process after surgery or whether it could indicate something more concerning.
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Boston, MA
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My surgery date is:
April 22, 2026
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I was diagnosed with:
Pulmonary Regurgitation
Pulmonary Stenosis
Tricuspid Regurgitation
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My surgery was:
Pulmonary Valve Replacement
Tricuspid Valve Repair
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