I Was the First TAVR Patient at Borgess

I was the first patient at Borgess Medical Center to have a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) where they used a catheter instead of open-heart surgery, which I had before. The surgery was done by Dr. Vishal Gupta, a heart doctor at the Borgess Heart Institute.

About a year before the surgery I had a scary moment when I had difficulty breathing and broke out in a heavy sweat. The doctor said I had a heart rate of 28.

They did an ultrasound and decided that I needed a new valve. They told me that if the new valve was too small it may leak and if was too big it could rupture and I could die. The planning they do is very painstaking and meticulous.

I had the new treatment on a Monday and on Thursday morning before noon I was released. There have been no problems. My first open-heart surgery was harder on my body than this was.

Now I lift weights, I ride the stationary bike and I walk 10 minutes on the treadmill several times a week. I’m slowly getting better. More pep.