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Three Years After Aortic Valve Replacement, Leo Transforms Into A "Sprint" Triathlete

By Adam Pick on November 2, 2012

There's nothing better than opening an email and reading a patient success story.

That said, here's a great update from Leo Hernandez. As you might recall, I first posted about Leo in 2009 after his bicuspid aortic valve was replaced Doctor Richard Shemin, MD at UCLA in Los Angeles. In his email, Leo writes to me:

Leo Hernandez - BAV Patient And Half-Marathon Runner

Leo Hernandez - Aortic Valve Replacement Patient

Dear Adam,

Thanks for using my picture with Dr. Shemin on your October 19 issue of your newsletter. To let you know, it's been now 3 years and 9 months since my aortic valve replacement by Dr. Richard Shemin on January 6, 2009.

Even though I am now 60, I feel I am in the best shape of my life. I have participated and completed 3 sprint triathlons this past summer in Florida. A sprint triathlon is a 400 meter open ocean swim, a 16 mile bike ride, and a 3 mile run.

Now, I am training to enter an Olympic distance triathlon next year which includes a 1.5 kilometer swim, a 40 kilometer bike ride, and a 10 kilometer run.

Leo with Dr. Richard Shemin

Thanks again for your book and website!

Leo Hernandez, MD

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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.

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