Camryn 's Journal

My name is Camryn Dimarco, I’m a 23 year old from Kansas City, Missouri and this is my story of how my life changed forever with the most incredible people.
My journey began in August 2022 when I started Nursing school. It was during one of our units of learning about heart conditions where I started to think it was more than anxiety. That very day I called the local hospital and scheduled an appointment with a cardiologist as soon as I could get in.
At my first visit, they did an EKG, a stress test, and lab work. Everything came back “normal”. But I knew something was off so I kept pushing for more. Over the next month or so I had an MRI, TEE, and an echocardiogram. That’s when they found it and diagnosed me with aortic regurgitation at just 20 years old. It was terrifying and I didn’t know what this would mean for my life at the time.
We soon met with a surgeon at The University of Kansas Health System who walked us through all the surgical options. One which stood out most for my life expectancy which was the “Ross Procedure”. It seemed like the most reasonable path to consider.
We soon started researching this procedure and surgeons who did it, which is where we came across Dr. El-Hamamsy. After reading everything about him, we called his office and scheduled for an in person visit in March of 2023.
When we met Dr. El-Hamamsy and his team, we immediately knew this was the surgeon I wanted to do my open heart surgery. He explained the Ross Procedure in every detail. Every risk, every benefit, every step, and took the time to make sure my parents and I felt informed and comforted about it. As someone whose faith is a cornerstone of their life, I was very deeply moved when he spoke about how the living tissue of the valve and the body’s design are testaments of creation. In that moment, we felt peace. We knew we were exactly where we were meant to be for this.
From that first meeting in 2023 until my surgery in July 2025, we stayed in close contact. I had echocardiograms every 6 months and MRIs yearly, all shared with Dr. El-Hamamsy. We also had a few FaceTime meetings and phone calls to check in. What made my case unique, however, was that my valve wasn’t dilating the way most patients do. It was staying small and not within surgical intervention parameters yet. Yet my symptoms were quickly worsening, and finally it was time to do it.
My Ross Procedure surgery was on July 2, 2025. It was the most surreal, emotional, and challenging experience of my life. The day before my surgery, at my pre-op appointment, I met the full care team. Every single one of them treated with me with such warmth, empathy, and compassion. I felt seen, heard, and safe.
The morning of my surgery, I had one request that Dr. El-Hamamsy would come to the pre-op bay and say a prayer with my parents and I. And he did without hesitation made it happen. In that moment, he gave us a gift no surgeon is trained to provide, peace of mind and heart. His presence, his calmness, his overwhelming kindness… it all reassured me that I was In the hands of someone truly so special.
The Ross Procedure went perfectly. In the OR he discovered that I had a bicuspid valve that either split or fused at some point, creating the illusion of a normal aortic valve. None of which any scan or test had shown him. The timing couldn’t have been more miraculous. And I couldn't have asked for a more skilled, talented, competent, or compassionate surgeon to be holding my life in his hands literally and figuratively.
He came to see me that night and continued to check in on me every day during my hospital stay. He and his team are simply the best people in the world. I cannot imagine going through this journey without them.
To Dr. El-Hamamsy, I can’t thank you enough for saving my life and for giving me a second chance. I love you with my whole heart. Thank you for showing me miracles do happen❤️‍🩹