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Tim's Story: From Heart Valve Reoperation to Mini-Marathon Success

Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: September 23, 2025

The unique bond that patients form with their heart valve surgeons can extend well beyond the operating room. Some patients, like Tom Fitzmorris, go surfing with their surgeons. Other patients, like Dave Augustus, make signs that salute their surgeons at the top of Mount Whitney.

In this example, Tim Derloshon shares videos and regular updates with Dr. Marc Gerdisch, a world-renowned heart valve surgeon who performed an aortic valve re-replacement on Tim six years ago. Tim benefitted from the use of rigid sternal fixation, a new form of sternal closure that Dr. Gerdisch uses to help patients accelerate their recovery.

Tim Derloshon (Heart Valve Re-Operation Patient)

Tim Says...

Over the years, Tim has shared several updates about his miraculous recovery with Dr. Gerdisch. So you know, Dr. Gerdisch has successfully treated over 100 patients from our patient community. Click here to see 100+ patient reviews for Dr. Gerdisch.

Dr. Marc Gerdisch

In this video, filmed just 23 days after heart surgery, Tim shows Dr. Gerdisch how he started swinging his golf clubs during his early recovery.

To celebrate his 6th anniversary from aortic valve re-replacement, Tim sent the following note to Dr. Gerdisch and copied me on it.

Dr. Gerdisch, Just wanted to tell you "Thanks!" for giving me the extra bonus time. As of today, it is six years since you did my re-operation on my aortic valve. I took your advice concerning diet and exercise. Two weeks before my 74th birthday, I was able to run my second Indy mini-marathon with my two sons in under three hours. With the Sternalock plates on my sternum, I have had no chest movement problems at all. To be honest, I do miss my Captain Morgan and Diet Coke, ribeye steak, and cigarettes but without the lifestyle changes, I would've missed birthdays number 69 through 74. Thank you! Tim

Tim with His Family

Tim's Advice

During our most recent email exchange, I was curious to know what Tim's number one piece of advice is for patients now that he is 6 years out from his second heart valve operation. Tim wrote to me:

Adam, The best piece of advice I could give is that once you make a decision on what type of surgery you're going to have and what surgeon you decide to have do it, that you place complete faith in their knowledge and ability to perform his or her skills. They will give you all the tools that you will need to follow to reduce any fears, doubts and anxieties and guide you to recovery. Bottom line is trust, be thankful and most of all except your journey with a smile.

Many thanks to Tim for sharing his experience with our community. And, many thanks to Dr. Marc Gerdisch for taking such great care of Tim!

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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