Lacresia's Guestbook

Hi Lacresia,
I hope you are feeling and healing well. I am scheduled for the Ross procedure next week. Would love to hear about your experience and recovery. 

Hope your surgery went well!!! My husband had a RP with Dr. stelzer on sept.20, 2091, and then a valve replacement and mitral repair by him on Jan.14, 2019. He is a rock star!! We love him! Pls send him our best, sylvia & Joey Yasgur- you are in the best ( and kindest) of hands!!

You made it! Hope you have a recovery ❤️‍🩹 with strength. I had a ST Jude valve in 2010 still ticking and ongoing inr tests. Wish you wellness on your heart journey. 

Saying a prayer for you today Lacresia, for a successful procedure and a smooth recovery 🙏.  A nurse practitioner dx my heart murmur also. God bless those NP’s! 

Hello Lacresia, my name is Theresa Palmer. I just want to reassure you that you’ve made the best choice ever I found out about a year and a half ago that I had severe aortic stenosis and with research I also came across the Ross procedure and found Dr. Stelzer.  The minute I listen to his video on the Ross procedure.org. I knew that he was the surgeon for me. I felt 100% comfortable with him and I knew that this was the procedure that I had been looking for.  His assistant Maria Cruz was the first person to give me hope, telling me that I was a candidate.  I had my procedure done November 8, 2023. I was not scared going in because I knew I was going to be in good hands with Dr. Stelzer. The postop care was incredible. The nurses and doctors takes such good care of you. And Dr. Stelzer would give me daily visits to see how I was doing and every time I saw him I could not help but just smile from ear to ear, he is so  kind and funny and just so full of love!
At Mount Sinai Hospital I just can’t say enough good things about the staff. They were amazing. 
It has been seven months  and I am doing fantastic. I don’t have to take any medication’s at all not even a baby aspirin. And the incision it is small and faint. You can barely see it.   I feel great and I know you will too. I am so happy that you found the Ross procedure and Dr. Stelzer!  You are truly in good hands. God bless you, and you will be in my prayers, Theresa💕

You are in great hands. Just had the Ross performed by El-Hamamsy. He and Stelzer work together. Don't worry about anything. The program and teams there are out of site! I had almost no pain especially compared to what I thought I would have. Totally off pain meds a week or 2 from surgery. Take a deep breath and focus on healing well. It's working for me.
NY is the city of noise and lights. May want ear plugs and sleep mask. Let the nurse know to shut your door at night. Makes it a little easier to sleep. Also hospital food doesn't meet my criteria. I don't think it's healthy. Best of luck!

Heart surgery is definitely a scary event but they have come so far in this field now and they are able to do things like this with very little discomfort.  I have had no pain issues from my heart surgery.  I was up and walking the next day and eating like a horse!  Only took one small dosage of pain meds after surgery only because one of my drain tubes was giving me some discomfort.  You are very young and will get through this quickly!  Thoughts and prayers for you!

It sounds like you were lucky to have found the severe stenosis when you did. Good luck on your upcoming surgery. I am going in the day before yours. We’ll be recovering before we know it! Imagine how much better you are going to feel!

Hi, I had your procedure in 2019 at the Cleveland Clinic.  After discharge from the hospital, I had to stay for another 5 days until my first post-op visit.  Afterwards, I was able to fly home to Philadelphia.  The flight was fine, it had no affect on how I was feeling.  You will be tired and I would recommend you take advantage of a wheelchair to get to your gate.  Best of luck to you!