About Me (In My Own Words)
On July 1, 2010 I had surgery to replace my aortic valve and to replace my ascending aorta due to an anurism at Sentara General Hospital in Norfolk, VA. Dr Michael McGrath was my surgeon. I was 63 at the time.
I did fine after the surgery. I got to the point were I was walking and jogging 5-6 miles most days and working out with weights 3 days a week. In 2013 I had my prostate removed for cancer. Some of the cancer spread outside the prostate and in 2014 I had radiation therapy after a year my PSA began to rise and I was put on hormone treatment. In 2016 I was diagnosed with bladder cancer and had 3 procedures performed through the year and at the end of the year they installed an artificial sphincter and in 2018 they discovered more bladder cancer which they removed.
In 2019 my cardiologist discovered an anurism at the aortic root and sent me to a surgeon who decided to watch to see if was growing. In 2021 my cardiologist said my aortic valve was in need of replacement again and sent me to the surgen who said that
my anurism had grown to 6.5 or7 mm and because it was a second open heart surgery he felt it would better to contact the Cleveland Clinic so he contacted them and sent my cat scan and echos to them and within a few weeks I was reviewed and accepted and scheduled for surgery for 06/03/2022.
My son drove me to Cleveland from Richmond 2 days before for 2 days of testing and stayed with me the whole time. My surgery was performed the morning of the 3 rd. My surgeon, Dr. Marijan Koprvanac, said I was a man of many lives. He said my anurism had grown to 7.5 mm (They like to operate at 5.5), and it started dissecting and probably would have ruptured if the bone and scar tissue from my first open heart surgery hadn't prevented it. I spent 1or2 days in ICU and 8 or 9 in the step down unit. I then had 2 more days of testing and went home. I can't thank Dr Koprvanac enough he is a wonderful surgent and with God and Jesus's guidance he saved my life.I've finished cardiac Rehab now and am back to walking 3.5 to 5 miles 6 days a week and some light work with dumbells I feel like I'm in .my 60's and I just turned 76 and if God's willing I'll reach 77.
I believe God and Jesus create miracles and the fact I'm alive is one of them.
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Midlothian, Virginia
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My surgery date is:
June 3, 2022
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My hospital is:
Cleveland Clinic
