Kevin's Profile

Born with bicuspid aortic valve. Trace murmur discovered during routine sports physical as a child. Completely asymptomatic throughout athletic childhood and up until mid-life as an active firefighter/paramedic. Late 40's had a bout of atrial fibrillation. Echo revealed bicuspid valve with trace calcification but without stenosis or regurgitation. A-fib controlled with meds and began annual echos. Continued career in Fire Service for five more years without any issues. Retired after 25 fantastic years under my own terms without issue. A-fib returned. Meds no longer effective. Several elective cardioversions later and sustained a-fib...successful ablation. Seven years later...still no a-fib! Annual echos became semi-annual as valve became "tighter". Watch and wait for two years. Now diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis...still symptom-free...unless one considers insidious "symptoms" like less desire to clean house ;-) After much deliberation, anxiety, sweat, research...finally decided on a valve procedure. Made a case for and against each option as I poured through studies supporting and/or refuting each. Paralysis by analysis! One morning awoke in a cold sweat from the stress and fear of making the "wrong choice"; shuffled to my desk; prayed fervently...then the most amazing series of events occurred. First, a song poured from my heart thru my pen. Start to finish. No words...just the chords of all the parts...melody, refrain, bridge, ending! Never happened like this before. Then, I had no sooner put the period on the final stanza...played it thru on guitar...when the phone rang...7:30 a.m. On the line was Dr. Stelzer! We had the most relaxing, informative, supportive conversation. Hung up the phone and immediately a dear friend called with a key paraphrased verse from the Bible: "When (not if) I am afraid, I will trust in You." Later, that day, I was able to talk with two of Dr. Stelzer's Ross procedure patients. I was finally free...my decision made! No looking back. Greatest fears at this point are cognitive decline and changes in singing voice quality following open heart surgery. Greatest honor: carrying on the legacy of my donor by receiving his/her pulmonary valve.