Jill's Profile

Hello all. My 19 year old son, Sebastian was recently diagnosed with a biscuspid aortic heart valve with severe backward flow leakage. Sebastian has had issues with depression for years and this has sent him into a new spiral. He is currently not interested in having any sort of surgery. I am hoping that we can get his head into the right place and I have been investigating less invasive options and had his records sent to a surgeon at the University of Chicago. They reviewed his records and have recommended repair rather than replacement, however, Dr. Balkhy does not perform this procedure. Dr. Plestis of Winnewood, PA has been recommended. He also offers a surgery that does not break the sternum. Records were just being sent today and we have an appointment scheduled for August 3rd if I can convince Sebastian to go. I think it likely I will have to cancel this appointment until a later date. It’s been a lot for him to process and I think he’ll get there in time. Medical science is a wonderful thing and this is a very fixable condition. I have to put my faith in Sebastian’s ability to make the right decision at the right time for him.