There is something about a thoughtful email from a loving caregiver that really moves me - in a good way.
Although I was a patient, I can directly relate to the fear, uncertainty and doubt that caregivers struggle with as they collect information on behalf of their mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, wifes, husbands, brothers, sisters and [...]

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Well… What do you think?
Is it true that over 10,000 heart valve procedures are performed each year at The Cleveland Clinic for disorders including mitral valve regurgitation?

According to its website, The Cleveland Clinic continues to perform the largest number of valve procedures in the United States. In 2006, Cleveland Clinic surgeons performed 2,127 valve procedures [...]

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I was just reading the New York Times when I came across a very positive story about elderly heart surgery patients.

According to a new report, “Eighty-year-olds with clogged arteries or leaky heart valves used to be sent home with a pat on the arm from their doctors and pills to try to ease their symptoms. [...]

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I just received this interesting email from Margaret. She had mechanical valve replacement surgery almost 27 years ago. I thought you would appreciate her thoughts about surgery and the clicking noise of mechanical valve.
Adam,
I just received your book and so far it’s great. I’m not like most people who is buying this to understand what [...]

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Lately, I’ve been doing a lot of shopping on eBay.
Robyn (my wife) is pregnant and I’m finding that most baby/nursery products are 20%-30% cheaper on eBay than at Babies R Us or Right Start.
Earlier today…. I could not resist. I typed “heart valve” into the search field at eBay. Guess what I found?
I actually found [...]

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The day before patients enter the hospital, they usually pack a travel bag.
So you know, the average hospital stay for heart valve surgery patients is four to six days. That said, many patients mistakenly pack a big bag of stuff as if they were vacationing in Hawaii. The reality? You will only need a few, [...]

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I stress A LOT of things for patients to “watch out for” as they prepare for heart valve surgery. One of the most critical, potential pitfalls in this complex process is poor surgeon selection. As we all know, there is risk in any type of surgery. But, finding the right cardiac surgeon (with extensive experience) [...]

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On the topic of preparing for heart surgery…
Lloyd asks, “Adam - Thank you for your promptness in sending your book to me last weekend. I have started to read it, but I am still a little afraid. My question is this, how did you physically prepare for your surgery? I am 61 years [...]

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When diagnosed with severe heart valve disease, most patients have a fundamental question which races through their minds. That question goes a little something like this, “Oh My Gawwwwwd… What Can I Do To Live?!”
Valerie has taken this question a step further… Valerie has been diagnosed with thickened, calcified mitral and aortic valve leaflets and [...]

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Kelly’s mother was recently diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis and is preparing for aortic valve replacement surgery. She writes to me, “Adam: I’m doing my best to help my mom understand what is involved in aortic valve surgery. The problem is… I don’t know what happens during the operation. Can you please describe the aortic [...]

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