JOHN DANGELO - Heart Valve Journal

My Journal

371 days ago

Valerie Allen, Daisy Tanner, divya gangadharan and 7 others reacted to this

10 days ago, I underwent a very successful Ross Procedure at USC by Dr. Vaugh Starnes. Couldn't be happier with the results! We are back at home recovering ...Read more

10 days ago, I underwent a very successful Ross Procedure at USC by Dr. Vaugh Starnes. Couldn't be happier with the results! We are back at home recovering nicely. Thank you all for your support!

Daisy Tanner That is great news! 🙏🏼 Thank you for the update!

Richard Munson

Marie Myers Congratulations!!

Susan Lynn Looking good! Congrats!

Rose Madura Congratulations and welcome home.

Kimberly Eisenhut So happy for you John! Congrats, you look amazing!

Pamela Gregory Wow! You look amazing! Keep up the smooth recovery

Deena Z Wow, you look great! Congrats. Exhale. The hardest part is so over.

susan harris fantastic! so great to see!

Daniel Gillbanks Awesome news!

JOHN DANGELOposted an update

392 days ago

Jeff Folger reacted to this

Question for everyone: how long after surgery until you went out to dinner with friends?

Marcus Krauss For me it was about a month.

Richard Munson I waited a month before telling friends i had surgery. When no one asked how i was, they became non f ... Read more

Richard Munson I waited a month before telling friends i had surgery. When no one asked how i was, they became non friends.

Rita Savelis I was in hospital for 3 weeks and live-in rehab hospital for another 3 weeks. There was a café in fr ... Read more

Rita Savelis I was in hospital for 3 weeks and live-in rehab hospital for another 3 weeks. There was a café in front of the rehab hospital so I went out to eat alone about week 5...

Jeff Folger a month or two, I was single so I think I was walking to the local grocery store to get food more tha ... Read more

Jeff Folger a month or two, I was single so I think I was walking to the local grocery store to get food more than dining out

Ana Brusso A month or two. I have made tons of food and froze them so didn’t need to go out and eat. It’s di ... Read more

Ana Brusso A month or two. I have made tons of food and froze them so didn’t need to go out and eat. It’s different for everyone

Pamela Gregory Probably 6 weeks for me but probably could have gone before that.

Rita Savelis Play it by ear John. If you feel like going out 3 days later, do it. Sometimes one has to "perform" a ... Read more

Rita Savelis Play it by ear John. If you feel like going out 3 days later, do it. Sometimes one has to "perform" and act a bit better than one actually feels. That can be exhausting. Sometimes friends are glad your surgery is finished but unaware of recovery time and how you may be okay one day and exhausted another. But some people are ready to run marathons straight away. So more power to them! Wishing you the best.

JOHN DANGELO Thanks everyone! I'll definitely not push myself, but it will give me something to look forward to. ... Read more

JOHN DANGELO Thanks everyone! I'll definitely not push myself, but it will give me something to look forward to.

JOHN DANGELOposted an update

396 days ago

Daisy Tanner, Daniel Gillbanks , Pamela Gregory reacted to this

Two weeks out from my Ross Procedure! Not excited for the hospital stay, but looking forward to putting this behind me and starting my recovery journey.

John Cook Good luck with your Ross Procedure too. Mine is 6 weeks out. I’m scrambling around getting my pre ... Read more

John Cook Good luck with your Ross Procedure too. Mine is 6 weeks out. I’m scrambling around getting my pre-op stuff done, watching educational videos, and getting my short term disability approved.

JOHN DANGELO My pre-op appointment in Monday! What do they have you doing? Good luck on the short term disability. ... Read more

JOHN DANGELO My pre-op appointment in Monday! What do they have you doing? Good luck on the short term disability. I'm thankfully approved for 12 weeks.

John Cook Me too. This week I’m getting dental clearance and preparing coworkers, consultants, & contrac ... Read more

John Cook Me too. This week I’m getting dental clearance and preparing coworkers, consultants, & contractors for me being gone.

Good luck with the pre-op.

JOHN DANGELOposted an update

424 days ago

Surgery date is set! Ross Procedure on April 29, at USC with Dr. Starnes. I'm nervous, but ready! Any tips for recovery?

Jessica F For me, one of the most helpful tools of my recovery after my surgery was a stuffed animal. Maybe a b ... Read more

Jessica F For me, one of the most helpful tools of my recovery after my surgery was a stuffed animal. Maybe a bit silly, but it was both psychological and physical! I often felt tension in my chest during the healing process, maybe due to anxious thoughts or maybe just a part of my body recovering. Gently pressing a lightweight stuffed animal against it really helped ease the tension I held there. Best of luck in the final stretch!

Marie Myers I would do some daily stretching to get ready for your surgery. My upper back and shoulders bothered ... Read more

Marie Myers I would do some daily stretching to get ready for your surgery. My upper back and shoulders bothered me more than my chest. Some good preop stretching might help. And prepare to be patient with yourself and your recovery.

Darrell Malone Hello. I think for me it is listen to your body. Don't compare your progress with others. We all heal ... Read more

Darrell Malone Hello. I think for me it is listen to your body. Don't compare your progress with others. We all heal different. All the best. My recliner chair was helpful though.

J Alexander Lassally Recliner at your home ready for sleeping and resting. Paramount...

JOHN DANGELO What type of Recliner! We have purchased one to feed our daughter, could that work?

Darrell Malone @John i just got a basic power recliner nothing to fancy (some are fancy however) it also can lift me ... Read more

Darrell Malone @John i just got a basic power recliner nothing to fancy (some are fancy however) it also can lift me up so I can stand so i didn't need to use my arms, that was very helpful while my sternum healed. I picked one from my local furniture/appliance store.

J Alexander Lassally Hi John - Well, I rented one from a medical supply store - They have big and cushy ones with electric ... Read more

J Alexander Lassally Hi John - Well, I rented one from a medical supply store - They have big and cushy ones with electric recline features. You will need an electric control panel to bring it back and forward. Think of it like this: the bigger and more cushy and grandpa like it is, the better!!! I rented mine for several hundred dollars - best money I ever spent in the recovery.

JOHN DANGELOposted an update

472 days ago

Robert Miller, Pamela Gregory, Darrell Malone reacted to this

Hi y'all!
My name is John D'Angelo. My story started 33 years ago when doctors noticed I was struggling to breathe after birth. See, I was trouble since ...Read more

Hi y'all!
My name is John D'Angelo. My story started 33 years ago when doctors noticed I was struggling to breathe after birth. See, I was trouble since day one!!!! Before the age of 2 I had two heart surgeries to help with my BAV and aorta arch. Thankfully, everything went well! Here we are 33 years later and I'll be needing my aorta valve replaced. While very scared, I am confident. I'm looking to get a Ross Procedure done in the month of April either at USC with Dr. Starnes or at UCLA with Dr. Si.

Andrew Dial Ross is a fantastic option! I had mine 2.5 years ago at the age of 33, and very happy with the decisi ... Read more

Andrew Dial Ross is a fantastic option! I had mine 2.5 years ago at the age of 33, and very happy with the decision.

Michael Ponzio Best wishes I hope all works out well and you get the Ross procedure. I’m scheduled March 19 for su ... Read more

Michael Ponzio Best wishes I hope all works out well and you get the Ross procedure. I’m scheduled March 19 for surgery. God willing I am a candidate.