Ron's Profile

In 2013, my primary care doctor noticed a murmur during my annual exam and referred me to a cardiologist, who diagnosed a mitral valve prolapse with mild regurgitation. Since I've had no symptoms, we've monitored this over the years with annual checkups and periodic echocardiograms. In late 2019, the echo showed increased mitral regurgitation; a TEE in early 2020 showed a flail of the P2 scallop with ruptures of the chordae tendineae (or, in language I can understand, some of the little stringy things that control the little flappy things are broken). I'm extremely fortunate in that I have no obvious symptoms and my condition has had no impact on my activities to date: pre-Covid, I did cycling/strength classes 3-4 times a week at my gym, which I've continued virtually since March with online classes and a spin bike in a corner of my living room. My wife and I are also raising our nearly 2-year-old grandson and I'm his primary caregiver (which keeps me running, literally!). Since this condition is a "pay me now or pay me later" kind of thing, I've opted to do the surgery now, rather than waiting until the valve worsens, so we can repair it and not replace it. Plus, if you have the option of choosing when to have heart surgery, why wouldn't you choose to do it in 2020, given the general theme of this year?? Pleased to find this community and resource, especially as a fellow Wolverine (Michigan B.A., political science, 1981). Thanks, Adam, and Go Blue!