I firstly want to thank everyone for their generous support in helping me raise just over $48,000 during the last 12 years for the American Heart Association.  For those receiving this request for support for the first time, this is my small way to give back for the two lifesaving heart surgeries I have had. My first surgery, at 6 years old, was to repair a Coarctation of the Aorta.  I wanted to share a great video on a baby born with this congenital condition and the amazing progress in this treatment since 1966 – I was 3 when I was finally diagnosed and this baby was diagnosed at 22 weeks in utero (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-nVYOn2eKo). My second, 13 years ago at age 45, was to repair an Aneurysm in my Aorta and replace my Aortic Valve and Root (Bentall procedure). Unfortunately, since 2011 I have had three encounters with Endocarditis which damaged the prosthetic valve.  The infectious disease doctors have been recommending surgery to replace these parts since 2017 but the risks did not outweigh the benefits.  My doctors have recommended the next surgery be at a hospital where complex surgeries are more common.  While on a recent trip to Boston I had a consult with a surgeon who now feels it is time to replace the parts from 2011 with the surgery scheduled for Sept 26.  With this year’s heart walk scheduled for Sept 28 I will miss the walk but Ella and Layla are going to do the walk for me. 

Advancements are being made all the time for which I have benefited greatly from throughout my life.  I evidenced the improvements with a preop catheterization test 6 weeks ago.  My last catheterization test was 10 years ago through the groin with a big Perspex looking plate laying over my chest and me lying there as I was born with only a washcloth for modesty.  This time they inserted the catheter through my wrist which is less invasive and less time in the hospital afterwards.  This time I was covered in nice warm blankets with a much smaller scanning screen.  The tests were online in MyChart the next morning with videos and a detailed assessment for the surgeon.  One area I would like to see is an online translator to convert the 5 syllable unpronounceable words the doctors use into everyday English

Each year I try to show the improvements from the research we support.  Below is some general stats and a few examples of how the American Heart Assn contributes as the largest nonprofit, non-governmental funding source for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease research.

• The AHA has invested over $5.7 billion in research since 1949.
• Current AHA-funded research projects total $479 million and support 1,700 projects.
• In 2022-23, the AHA funded 868 new projects, totaling $178 million.
• Last year 2,234 dedicated peer review volunteers evaluated 3,775 proposals for funding!
• AHA funding to investigators from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups in science has more than doubled over the past five years.
• AHA funding helped launch the careers of many of this country’s most prominent cardiovascular and brain scientists, including 15 Nobel prize winners.
• For every $1 of AHA early career faculty development award investment, awardees receive $7.8 in subsequent funding.

Thank you again for you continued support and I look forward to and appreciate the stories you share with me on how heart disease has impacted you personally.  I hope that our combined donations will positively affect all of those touched by heart disease.  Regards.

Paul