Kerry's Profile

I am Kerry Broome (43 years old.) I was diagnosed with a heart murmor when I was 12 yrs old. Murmors are quite normal however they often indicate an abnormality that later in life will require corrective surgery. In recent years my aortic valve had been carefully monitored as it was dicovered in 2008 that my condition was developing into stenosis. Six months ago I was told that my condition was operable however without symptoms the doctors were willing to wait before strongly recommending surgery. With the benefit of hindsight I was experiencing symptoms such as fatigue and pounding chest when I became active from rest. MRI and ECG tests had already revealed moderate stenosis and severe regurgitation. Following a camping weekend I submitted myself for tests at the Royal Jubilee hospital in Victoria BC. The hospital admitted me almost immediately and I was scheduled for surgery later that week. Further tests revealed that my aortic root was aneurysmal in two places and therefore Dr. Opheish elected to perform a full Bental procedure meaning he would replace my aortic valve, root and stem. The surgery was performed successfully on June 14th, 2012.