About Me (In My Own Words)
I was born with a unicuspid aortic valve and thankfully was able to get through childhood into adulthood without intervention until my 20s in 2009 when I underwent an aortic valve replacement with an Edward’s pericardial valve and an ascending hemi arch replacement with a graft at Cleveland Clinic with Dr Gosta Pettersson. After a good run of 16.5 years & now in my early 40s, it’s time to be replaced again & I’m at a crossroads for my next intervention. I’ve been followed by my cardiologist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago for the past 20+ years and so far have talked with both Dr Chris Malaisrie at a Northwestern & Dr Marc Gerdisch at Franciscan Indianapolis. I’m fortunate to work for a medical device company & have several colleagues & friends in the valve space. With more options this go around & many trusted opinions, currently trying to decide what’s the best route for me & will give me the best quality of life with limited future interventions. The two options that keep coming to the top are the Ross Procedure & a mechanical valve. I welcome any thoughts, words of wisdom, & experience. I have been utilizing heartvalvesurgery.com quite a bit, watching all the great webinars, articles & reading patient stories. 😁
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
-
I am from:
Indianapolis, Indiana
-
I was diagnosed with:
Aortic Regurgitation
Aortic Stenosis
Bicuspid Aortic Valve
-
