Great to read such an awesome report Jim! I haven\'t been on here in months, but as I get closer to my one year anniversary it is great to read the posts of ...Read more
Great to read such an awesome report Jim! I haven\'t been on here in months, but as I get closer to my one year anniversary it is great to read the posts of you and so many others that I followed closely leading up to my surgery. Keep up the reat work!
Kerry Thomas
Great update Jim. So to summarize, you are not only doing great, but showing the doctors the impossible is possible. Truly amazing!!!!
So happy for you. ...Read more
Great update Jim. So to summarize, you are not only doing great, but showing the doctors the impossible is possible. Truly amazing!!!!
So happy for you. So happy we met in NYC. Take care and hi to Donna.
-Mitch Friedman
Way to go Jim! So happy for you. I am glad we got to meet in person at Mt. Sinai and now look at us, 1 year later. Both doing great. God bless you, god bless ...Read more
Way to go Jim! So happy for you. I am glad we got to meet in person at Mt. Sinai and now look at us, 1 year later. Both doing great. God bless you, god bless Drs. Stelzer and Adams and god bless Mt Sinai. Best to you always.
Jeff Shebovsky
Bless your heart ! Literally and figuratively. I
am so happy to receive this report. Keep
doing what you\'re doing - thoughts and
prayers will stay with you. ...Read more
Bless your heart ! Literally and figuratively. I
am so happy to receive this report. Keep
doing what you\'re doing - thoughts and
prayers will stay with you. You make a
great role model. So pleased to share in
your good news. Excellent.
Jan
Happy Anniversary Jim! Can you believe it\'s been a year? I will just say \"copy that\" to your post. I am doing very well also. Would never know I ever had ...Read more
Happy Anniversary Jim! Can you believe it\'s been a year? I will just say \"copy that\" to your post. I am doing very well also. Would never know I ever had anything wrong with my heart if it weren\'t for the scar. Couldn\'t help but notice you have some strange guestbook entries...I did also, one reason I\'m not on so much anymore, but main reason, I\'m sorry to say, is that it just isn\'t part of my thoughts constantly anymore. Think that\'s the way it is supposed to be.
Well, just wanted to say happy anniversary to my surgery \"partner\" and glad everything is good. Please tell Donna I said hello and God bless!
Linda THE Tiger, aka Linda Dixon, AVR 3/13/12.
Congratulations Jim on the new grandbaby and thank you for sharing your story. It was reassuring to read for me as I am now just 4 weeks from surgery and planning ...Read more
Congratulations Jim on the new grandbaby and thank you for sharing your story. It was reassuring to read for me as I am now just 4 weeks from surgery and planning everything out for hotels and such as quickly as possible.
Thank you again and Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.
Brian Walsh
Jim Smith Brian,
Thanks for the comment. It's reassuring once you decide on the plan and the date, but waiting ... Read more
Jim Smith Brian,
Thanks for the comment. It's reassuring once you decide on the plan and the date, but waiting for the surgery date to arrive is hard for most of us. My prayers are with you and your family - Jim
Hi Jim,
Great to see your update. Congrats to you and Donna on being grandparents again. How great it is to be fixed and see more grandkids. We have a lot ...Read more
Hi Jim,
Great to see your update. Congrats to you and Donna on being grandparents again. How great it is to be fixed and see more grandkids. We have a lot to be thankful for this year! I feel the same about my experience with Mt. Sinai. Would not change a thing. Doctor, nurses, all of it...great! I sent a great letter to the head nurse there acknowledging their staff but never even got a reply (that\'s my only negative). All the best to you and family. Have a blessed Thanksgiving.
Jeff Shebovsky
Just catching up on HVJ entires and saw yours (along with many of our other close friends). All I can say is way to go Jim! Glad all is well with you. Also, ...Read more
Just catching up on HVJ entires and saw yours (along with many of our other close friends). All I can say is way to go Jim! Glad all is well with you. Also, your comments about having a good running base have rung true. I am planning to run my first half marathon on 10/7. 8 months post op!
Keep up all the good recovery work my friend.
-Mitch Friedman
Hi Jim,
SO great to see the progress. Hiking? Seriously? High altitudes and all! Amazing!
Can\'t believe it\'s been 6 months. Like you said, in many ways seems ...Read more
Hi Jim,
SO great to see the progress. Hiking? Seriously? High altitudes and all! Amazing!
Can\'t believe it\'s been 6 months. Like you said, in many ways seems like yesterday and in many it seems so much longer than only 6 months ago. Keep up the good work.
Jeff Shebovsky
Hi JIm,
You are truly an inspiration to us all, and to me personally. Your positive attitude puts you over the top. So very glad you have such good news! ...Read more
Hi JIm,
You are truly an inspiration to us all, and to me personally. Your positive attitude puts you over the top. So very glad you have such good news!
Maggie
Your updates are MOST appreciated, You\'re an inspiration . Sending all my best wishes. You are a great role model for all of us.
Thank you. From just one ...Read more
Your updates are MOST appreciated, You\'re an inspiration . Sending all my best wishes. You are a great role model for all of us.
Thank you. From just one of your cheerleaders - keep up the good work.
Jan
Glad to hear you are \"fine\" with an estimated 8:36 pace....WOW!!!! I can\'t wait to read about your first full runs, when you are ready. Sure sounds like ...Read more
Glad to hear you are \"fine\" with an estimated 8:36 pace....WOW!!!! I can\'t wait to read about your first full runs, when you are ready. Sure sounds like you are doing the right thing and building slowly. Keep it up. Peachtree will be there next year. Not all of us can be Chuck!
Take care,
-Mitch Friedman
Great to see you running again and improving. Amazing to see this coming from where I saw you in the hospital a few short months ago.
This information is ...Read more
Great to see you running again and improving. Amazing to see this coming from where I saw you in the hospital a few short months ago.
This information is very helpful for me as I\'m increasing my runs and so forth and I\'m not an experienced runner so it is great to glean this information about how you going about it
Looking forward to more great news and enlightening info.
Jeff
I too am almost 3 months post mitral valve repair. It was wonderful reading of your recovery since your surgery. So nice to know what you have achieved since ...Read more
I too am almost 3 months post mitral valve repair. It was wonderful reading of your recovery since your surgery. So nice to know what you have achieved since your surgery. I am anxiously awaiting my first echo since surgery to see the results.
Thanks for your story.
Carol
Hi Jim,
Congratulations on passing all these milestones. It sounds as if you are beginning to get your life back to doing what you really love to do. What ...Read more
Hi Jim,
Congratulations on passing all these milestones. It sounds as if you are beginning to get your life back to doing what you really love to do. What a blessing!
Maggie
I am so impressed with your progress and
methodical persistance . Congratulations to you. All best wishes as you continue. I do
appreciate these updates. ...Read more
I am so impressed with your progress and
methodical persistance . Congratulations to you. All best wishes as you continue. I do
appreciate these updates. From one of your
cheerleaders. Jan O.
Hi Jim,
Lots of info here. Sounds like the repair was successful overall. Of course there are issues to deal with. I am so glad you are cleared to run again. ...Read more
Hi Jim,
Lots of info here. Sounds like the repair was successful overall. Of course there are issues to deal with. I am so glad you are cleared to run again. I am sure you are ecstatic. I was never a runner and still \"ain\'t\" apparently! :) LOL
Back to running, finally!! Great news. Although your \'slow pace\' is pretty much my max, I am jealous. Good for you Jim. So glad you got a good report. ...Read more
Back to running, finally!! Great news. Although your \'slow pace\' is pretty much my max, I am jealous. Good for you Jim. So glad you got a good report. Keep it up and as you well know, start slowly. Take care,
-Mitch Friedman
Jim,
Congrats- on getting where your at today. You have made great progress with the EF 20% up to 47% and even though it\'s not 61% it really depends on how ...Read more
Jim,
Congrats- on getting where your at today. You have made great progress with the EF 20% up to 47% and even though it\'s not 61% it really depends on how you feel. Many great athletes have a low EF, because of enlarged heart muscle from being so physically fit.
My other info on the EF% totally depends on what cardiologist is reading it; meaning the % can change any where from 5-10%.
My husband Chris EF that was read here in Milwaukee, WI was anywhere between 30-35%, but when we sent all the stuff to CCF there cardiologist read it at 40-45%, which I feel is a huge difference. As a Cardiac-Thoracic RN, I see it on a daily basis and it does depend on who reads it.
The best way to judge EF% is based on how you feel and by the sound of it your feeling pretty great so keep up the good work.
Best of Luck!
Sam Hanson
Upcoming Surgeries
Mark Giordano
Bicuspid Aortic Valve
September 16, 2025
Dr. Doug Johnston is a world-renowned heart valve surgeon that has performed thousands of heart valve operations that include minimally-invasive techniques.
I am from: Athens, Georgia
