March 25, 2011

Dear Dr. Adams and staff at the Mitral Valve Repair Center,

Please add this to the long list of testimonials that you no doubt have collected from past patients who have benefited from your ground-breaking mitral valve program at Mt Sinai Hospital.

My procedure was performed now almost three years ago in July of 2008, but I am hoping that the fact that my outstanding results and state of health at this time will underscore the accolades I think you and your program deserve in this late coming thank you.

My situation was unique at the time in 2008 as I was coming to you with complications stemming from a failed mitral valve repair performed by my health care provider out here in California. I had been very physically active in work and recreation up to that first operation. The repair soon proved to be inadequate to even provide minimum cardiac function for normal daily activities much less the vigorous road bicycling that had been my passion for thirty years.

My discovery of your program in New York with its dedication to advancing techniques allowing mitral repair versus valve replacement was encouraging news in the otherwise dark days after the first repair attempt. I quickly contacted the Repair Center and set out on the path for a re-repair. A date was set and my HMO agreed to cover all costs for the procedure and hospital stay. I felt the resulting hospital experience at Mt. Sinai was excellent and highly supportive both physically and psychologically. I felt I was a good judge of the patient experience as I had already racked up some firsthand background in that department. The complicated procedure was executed by the team headed by Dr. Adams and I walked into the fresh air of Central Park just over a week later.

The true test has been how well I was able get back to the active life that I hoped awaited me back in California. I am happy to relate that I am back to my bicycling again on the challenging, steep mountain roads that lie just outside my door in Sonoma County north of San Francisco. My heart has performed as normally as I could have ever hoped for as it powers me over these coastal hills that I so dearly love. I take no medications and have only my legs to blame for not spinning up these climbs any faster.

Thank you Dr. Adams and all the talented staff there at the Mitral Valve Repair Center for making my story be one of complete recovery and a happy expectation of a healthy and long life ahead.

Sincerely,

Chris P.

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From: Chris P.
Sent: November 11, 2008
To: Adams, David
Subject: Good news from California

Dear Dr. Adams,

All goes terrifically well with the MV re-repair on July 11th this year. I'm on my bicycle and using gears on these local hills that I have not used for some time even before my first surgery. No symptoms, no drama. My cardiologist at Kaiser SF, Dr. Jonathan Zoroff, has mentioned that my case and Mt. Sinai results are being circulated and that changes are being instituted in cardiac surgery as a result. Fewer surgeons will be doing mitral valves so those that do have the volume to become adept at the challenges involved. 3D echocardiograms will now be done routinely to map the valve preoperatively. A supine bicycle stress echo set-up will be in place soon. I will be one of the first users. The results will be added to my file and be used in presentations.

It even seems that Dr Zoroff might contact you regarding having you come out and do some education. This all makes the long hard road getting to my present health that much more rewarding. It will reap unexpected rewards for others perhaps.

Well, I will soon send the promised photo of me ascending one of my favorite hills. Thank you again for your all your care and expertise. Any time you want me to show up at a presentation and perform on the stationary bike, just call.

Sincerely,

Chris P.