Ken's Journal

Just curious if anyone in the community has had 4 or more open heart ops? I may be needing a fifth depending on results of my latest ECHO. My history is as follows Born with bicuspid aortic valve and diagnosis with aortic stenosis at age 3. Had open heart surgery (valvotomy) at age 10 Childrens Hospital Boston October 1960. Aortic valve replaced October 1984 with porcine valve at Brigham and Women's Boston, age 34. During procedure surgeon transected a coronary artery and had emergency bypass done. Porcine valve failed after 10 years, replace with St Judes Mechanical Valve in June 1994, age 44 at Mass General Hospital. In 2000 developed heart block and had pacemaker and defibrillator implanted, age 50 at MGH. In December 2006 diagnosed with aortic aneurysm and had 4th surgery in January 2007 at MGH, had graft at aneurysm. I'm still active; snow ski, hike and bike. Play pickleball 3 times a week and work a part time job. Very lucky to have benefitted from modern medicine.