Heart disease has been a dark presence in my family for as long as I can remember. Over the years, I’ve seen the impact it can have on the people we love and on the families who walk alongside them.
Most recently, someone very close to me was preparing for retirement and scheduled what was supposed to be a routine physical, just to make sure everything was in order. During that exam, a physician assistant detected a heart murmur. That one observation led to additional testing and the discovery of a 5.6 cm aneurysm in his upper aorta. There was no safe “wait and see” option. Because of the aneurysm’s size and location, a rupture would likely have been fatal. Instead of beginning retirement as planned, he suddenly found himself facing open-heart surgery.
During surgery, doctors also discovered a congenital bicuspid aortic valve, which was replaced while the aneurysm was repaired. With lots of prayer, an excellent surgeon, and the support of family, the surgery was a success. He spent five days in the hospital and progressed through rehabilitation so well that he completed it ahead of schedule. That was nine years ago. Today, he is still going strong and doing everything he could do before surgery, while continuing to see his cardiologist annually to make sure the repair and artificial valve are functioning as they should.
His story could have been very different. Faith, early detection, an attentive medical professional, skilled medical care, and the support of family all played a part in the story we are fortunate enough to tell today. That is one of the reasons I’m walking.
I’m participating in the American Heart Association Heart Walk to support the research, education, prevention, and advances in care that give more people the chance to have stories like this one. If you’re able, I hope you’ll consider supporting my walk. Every contribution helps advance the fight against heart disease and stroke and helps give more families more time with the people they love.