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Teppo Numminen, NHL Hockey Star, Returns To Ice After Mitral Valve Repair Surgery

By Adam Pick on December 19, 2007

If you are looking for inspiration about life after heart valve surgery…

You have come to the right place!

Here is an amazing follow-up, patient success story on Teppo Numminen. Teppo is a NHL hockey star who recently had mitral valve repair surgery at The Cleveland Clinic.

Teppo Numminent - Heart Valve Surgery Patient

From TheStar.com:

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Teppo Numminen skated with his teammates for the first time since open heart surgery three months ago. The 39-year-old was cleared to practice Thursday after visiting The Cleveland Clinic Cardiac Care Center on Monday and following up with team doctors Wednesday. Sabres Coach Lindy Ruff guesses it will be at least a month before he is ready to return to the lineup. Numminen had surgery to repair a faulty heart valve in September. The operation was ordered after he had a routine checkup just before training camp.

Way to go Teppo! Thanks to all the other heart valve surgery patients that are also athletes. You are truly inspiring!

Keep on tickin!
Adam

Written by Adam Pick
- Patient & Website Founder

Written by Adam Pick - Patient & Website Founder

Adam Pick is a heart valve patient and author of The Patient's Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. In 2006, Adam founded HeartValveSurgery.com to educate and empower patients. This award-winning website has helped over 10 million people fight heart valve disease. Adam has been featured by the American Heart Association and Medical News Today.

Jason says on January 20th, 2013 at 10:59 am

How do you know it was mitral valve repair rather than replacement?
Trying to find out as much as I can as I am also a hockey player looking to return to competitive or even recreational level after aortic valve and route replacement (Bental Procedure)

Ryan says on April 9th, 2013 at 2:17 pm

I would like to know the same! Did he have it replaced or repaired? What type of valve if replaced?

Jason, what kind of valve did you go with. I’m 28 years old and nearing heart valve surgery. Hockey is my passion and do not want to give it up.

Jason says on May 8th, 2013 at 11:15 pm

I’m 31, got the St. Jude Mechanical valcve and sleeve replacement sept/12/2012. i’ve only been able to continue coaching and light reffing. I haven’t played yet, mostly out of worry/risk of impact. i’ve gotten a couple wicked bruises since surgery that have literally taken months for the mark to go away. My father-in-law who is much older had a valve replacement a couple years before me and recently suffered a severe stroke, so it’s got my wife pretty nervous; mixed with just having a daughter in march, i’m just on hold now, awaiting some conversations with pros on the matter. Still keeping a little hope i’ll play even rec in the future, but I guess we’ll see. i’m living abroad, so i’ll be in the US this summer and hope to talk to several experts on it.