Cynthia's Profile

Diagnosis: Aortic Stenosis, Mitral Stenosis

Member Since: October 18, 2016

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About Me

I was diagnosed with HCM / Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy age 2 in Cleveland. By age 10, I lived in another state, where I was diagnosed with a failing aorta valve and had open heart surgery to have it repaired at 10. The surgeon found the aorta was fine and took out some of the thickening instead.The next four decades, cardiologists at different hospitals periodicaly said I needed aortic valve surgery right away, or I would die. Once I had a TEE showing the valve was fine. Othertimes, I would get a second opinion and learned I would likely need valve surgery someday, but not yet. A few months ago, a TEE showed I need both my aorta and mitral valves replaced, so that will be done Dec. 29 in Cleveland.
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    I am from: L, United States
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    My surgery date was: December 29, 2016
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    I was diagnosed with: Aortic Stenosis, Mitral Stenosis
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    My surgery was: Aortic Valve Replacement, Mitral Valve Replacement, Pacemaker Implant
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    My surgeon is: Dr. Nicholas Smedira
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    My hospital is: Cleveland Clinic

Upcoming Surgeries

Jeanmarie Fitzgerald
Aortic Regurgitation
June 18, 2026
Jim Rutherford
Aortic Regurgitation
June 23, 2026
Art Wright
Mitral Regurgitation
June 29, 2026

Surgeon Spotlight

Dr. Christopher Heid is a leading cardiac surgeon at UT Southwestern in Dallas, Texas who specializes in heart valve repair and replacement operations.

The Patient's Guide

The Patient's Guide

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