About Me (In My Own Words)
Hello Everyone,
It was late 2005, a couple of months prior to my graduation from college. The only stress relief from my final project was the gym, bodybuilding, intense cardio activities, and strict diet to maintain my health, mind and body shape. Although I was a smoker at the time, however, I would consider my health was perfect!
Until that day, I just had my headphone on and start running on a treadmill, the music, the high speed, feeling my heartbeats, detaching from the surroundings distractions, focusing on running and running... and all of a sudden... I have literally detached from everything around. Opening my eyes a minute later, finding my body lying on the ground, my coach calling for local medical help... what is going on?! I realized that I can't move, a V12 engine running in my chest none stoppable, the coach calling my brother, I heard "His heart rate is 230"!!! He needs immediate medical attention and I was rushed to a hospital. Never complained from anything before. I was proud of my healthy lifestyle. Test after test, normal Echo, and another Echo through my pharynx, stress tests and I was told that I am suffering from Bicuspid Aortic Valve and need an open heart surgery just a week prior my final final exam!
WOOW, what a start of multiple eras of my life which came all at ones! I was only 23 years old. It was devastating in the beginning. Why me? Why now? I still want to achieve and do more.
At one night I was talking to one of my good friends and he recommended a book for me to read. That book became like a bible, I quote:
"The truth is . . . once you learn how to die, you learn how to live."
I owe the writer Mitch Albom and his book "Tuesdays With Morrie" the positive mindset that kept me positive till now. I won't forget also the support of my beloved parents, family, friends who stood side by side with me during my recovery from the surgery which took place on the 30th of August, 2006.
After a long debate with my consultants and surgeon, I decided to go for a biological tissue valve. Everyone was telling me at that time, the best scenario for me was mechanical do it once and that will last you forever. Yet, I was against the idea of living on warfarin. I have to maintain a strict lifestyle, easy base of life which for someone like me who had a nickname of "Popcorn on fire" me was something that I could not accept. Luckily the Dr. Jamjoom go a step further beyond the medical facts and the guidelines, he understands the patient lifestyle, habits, and psychology and based on that he supports the patient with the best solution that fits his life.
I had a very successful surgery at King Faisal Specialist Hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia by the surgeon Dr. Ahmad Jamjoom following up with Dr. Ameer Tarabain whom I owe them my life and success.
During the past 11 years, since the operation, I got married, have 2 wonderful kids, a boy, and a girl, had my MBA, became a certified business trainer and a coach and helped over than 25,000 college/university students.
Now, and after these 11 years, I have been told that my valve already deteriorated and needs a replacement.
It's a beginning of a new era...
I will keep you posted with the updates... until that time, take care of your heart. And remember, your heart is not your own! It's yours and your beloved ones.
Regards,
Hasan Arabi Kassab Bashi
Bicuspid Aortic Valve Patient and life chaser.
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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My surgery date is:
August 30, 2006
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I was diagnosed with:
Bicuspid Aortic Valve
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My surgery was:
Aortic Valve Replacement
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My surgeon is:
Dr. Ahmad Jamjoom
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My hospital is:
King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre