I really appreciate hearing from the patients and caregivers in our community. Your emails and your phone calls are beyond heart warming (pun intended). That said, I just received an update from Joann Heindorf, a 78-year old patient from Florida, that was simply... extraordinary.
Joann Heindorf - Heart Valve Surgery Patient
Joann's update came in the form of an envelope that was mailed to my home.
Within that envelope, I found two things.
First, I found a wonderful picture of Joann smiling (shown above). Second, to my surprise, I found an 11-page handwritten note from Joann that described her journey through a series of health-related events including two cardiac procedures. While Joann, who is the mother of 3 boys and 2 girls, was initially diagnosed with a heart murmur and mitral valve prolapse, her first procedure actually included a mitral valve replacement, an aortic valve replacement, a tricuspid valve repair and a double coronary artery bypass graft. Then, after all that, Joann needed a mitral valve re-operation.
Video available online at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIR70w_ABa4
As you can tell, Joann has been through a lot. I am touched, moved and inspired by her story, which was so wonderfully described in this letter. I can not thank Joann enough for taking the time to share her experience with me -- which closed with the following words:
"Adam, thank you so much for your book. I hope you realize how your honesty helps so many heart surgery patients before-and-after their surgery. I wish I could give you a hug but since that is not possible, I will continue to pray for you and your family." -- Joann
Keep on tickin' Joann!
Adam
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.
This book has helped over 47,000 patients and caregivers from diagnosis to recovery.
Search 1,500 patient-recommended surgeons
This book has helped over 47,000 patients and caregivers from diagnosis to recovery.
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