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My 19th Heart Valve Surgery Anniversary!

Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: December 19, 2024

It's hard to believe.

This coming Saturday, December 21, I will celebrate my 19th anniversary of heart valve surgery. I am so incredibly thankful that I had a successful Ross Procedure performed by Dr. Vaughn Starnes at Keck Medicine of USC in Los Angeles. Since my operation, I have had no cardiac issues. None. In fact, at my last echocardiogram, my technician said to me, "This is amazing. Your valves look perfect."

In addition to being thankful for my fixed heart, I am thankful for the "second chance at life" this unexpected and unwanted health condition created for me. For the past 19 years, I have done my best to seize each day as an opportunity for adventure, personal growth and learning. Over the last 19 years, I see things a bit more clearly. I get frustrated less. I smile more. Many of those smiles come from helping others.

Dr. Vaughn Starnes (My Surgeon)

HeartValveSurgery.com is a big part of my commitment to helping others in their time of need. Since launching this website, I have been fortunate to meet and partner with others similar to me. As a result, this website has transformed into a vibrant community of people that have come together to support each other.

I still can't believe how much we've grown over the years.

From a tiny 3-page website in 2006, HeartValveSurgery.com has evolved into the world's largest educational resource for patients with over 20,000 pages of content. And, our patient community has gone global with more than 550,000 social media followers. Lastly, I never thought HeartValveSurgery.com would be sponsoring the life-saving cardiac surgeries of children in third-world countries. Here is a photo of Nsimire who we recently helped in Uganda.

All along, the mission has remained constant... To educate and to empower patients with heart valve disease.

As I write these words, I am shaking my head in disbelief and thankfulness. What an adventure this has been!!!

On behalf of Robyn, my wife, and Ethan, my son, many thanks to everybody in this community including the patients, their families, their friends, doctors, physician assistants, nurses, hospitals, medical companies, research organizations and our sponsors. I am so lucky to know, support and/or work with all of you!

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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