About Me (In My Own Words)
As I write this, I am 33 years old and reside in Jacksonville, Florida.
I was born with a bicuspid aortic valve that was first diagnosed when I was 7 years old. It did not slow me down as a child, and I remained very active with sports and even served in the United States Marine Corps right after high school. I meet regularly with a cardiologist, and have been on 50 mg of Losartan for several years to help slow down the stenosis and insufficiency.
My passion is motocross racing, which has been often deemed the most physically demanding sport in the world. I was able to compete with only the normal side effects that all racers face when your heart rate is 180-190 BPM. In June of 2017, I started to become symptomatic. After an echo and cardiac MRI at my local cardiologist just outside of Chicago, it was determined that I had the following:
1. Mildly thickened unicuspid aortic valve.
2. Severe aortic valve regurgitation.
3. Mild tricuspid regurgitation.
4. Normal mitral valve with decreased diastolic excursion of the anterior leaflet (Due to severe AR)
5. Severe left ventricular enlargement. (regurg volume of 87ml)
6. Mild right ventricle enlargement.
7. Calculated 2D biplane volumetric left ventricular ejection fraction 60 %.
8. Ascending aorta dilatation (diameter 46 mm at proximal level). Ascending aorta dilatation
(diameter 39 mm at mid level)
I was referred to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN by a close friend of my mother's (Dr. Bryan Foy). My mother is a CVICU nurse at our local hospital in IL, and has been there for almost 40 years. I was referred to Dr. Hartzell Schaff, who is very skilled at AV repair and has a very impressive resume. The plan was to fix the unicuspid valve, and replace the portion of my ascending aorta that had the aneurysm. If the repair did not take, I opted to have a tissue valve vs a mechanical valve due to my sport. Blood thinners and extreme motorsports do not go well together...
On 12/6/2017, I had my surgery. The surgery completed was aortic valve repair along with replacement of the ascending aorta from the sinotubular junction to the mid ascending level using a 24−mm diameter Hemashield synthetic graft.
Roughly 12 hours later, I had to be taken back into the OR and opened up a second time due to persistent bleeding and clotting at the site of the graft. This was repaired successfully, and I spent five days in the hospital. On my day of discharge, an echo was performed and the regurgitation was still present, but at a mild rate. I was told this would not be my last surgery, but we hoped this repair would last several years.
Three months after my surgery, I was able to get back on my bike and start riding again. It took no time at all to get back up to race pace, and feel good doing so. In June, I had a follow-up echo and consultation with my local cardiologist. It was determined that the aortic valve had worsened, and that the AV regurgitation was back to a severe amount. I was amidst of a relocation from IL to FL for work, so I opted to continue my care at the Mayo Clinic, but this time at the Jacksonville campus.
I had a surgical evaluation and consultation with Dr. Kevin Landolfo on 10/25. We had another echo and CT scan done to confirm the findings of the June echo, and they confirmed the degree of aortic regurgitation has progressed to severe, and my left ventricle continues to dilate and enlarge. The plan is to go back in and replace the aortic valve on 1/22/19. I have chosen to go with the Edwards Inspiris Resilia valve, due to the fact that I do not have to be on long-term blood thinners, and the valve should last much longer than a regular tissue valve. I will post updates as they come my way.
Thank you!!!
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Jacksonville, Florida
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My surgery date is:
January 22, 2019
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I was diagnosed with:
Aortic Regurgitation
Aortic Stenosis
Bicuspid Aortic Valve
Aortic Aneurysm
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My surgery was:
Aortic Valve Replacement
Aortic Valve Repair
Aortic Aneurysm Replacement
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My hospital is:
Mayo Clinic - Jacksonville, FL
