My Open Heart Warming Sports Story - EMAIL VERSION

This post in The Sports Time Traveler is different from all others.

It’s a personal story about my recent open heart surgery.

It starts with a brief overview, THE SHORT STORY, which you can see below.

For anyone who would like to read the inspirational in-depth story, I have included the link at the bottom of this short post to access THE FULL STORY.

THE SHORT STORY:

In 2005, I learned I had a defective heart valve that would require open heart surgery in about 20 years. It was discovered that I had mitral valve prolapse with regurgitation.

My cardiologist nailed the timing. In mid-2025, my annual echocardiogram revealed that the valve problem had progressed to the point where surgery was necessary.

After 19 years of the intimidating specter of open heart surgery gnawing at me, I now had to prepare myself for the biggest challenge of my life.

I leveraged everything I had learned over 40 years of athletic competition to mentally prepare myself. In addition, I drew inspiration from a chance meeting I had, back in 2005, with one of the greatest Olympic athletes in history, Mark Spitz.

Leveraging Mark Spitz’s race advice, I developed a mantra to prepare me for the surgery that I told myself repeatedly.

The Mantra:

1. I am not going to be afraid

2. I am going to visualize myself having successful surgery, and I’m not going to think about anything else

3. I am going to visualize myself having a full recovery, and I’m not going to think about anything else

4. I am going to enjoy the experience

In the couple of months before the surgery, I said this mantra to myself multiple times each day, and also when I went to sleep.

And it worked!

On October 30, 2025, I had a mitral valve repair via a sternotomy (the medical term for cracking open your chest).

I tolerated the surgery incredibly well and recovered remarkably fast.

And most of all, I faced the surgery and recovery with no fear.

I’m writing this article as a way to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who helped me through this, most of all my beautiful and talented wife, Heather, who was with me every minute, and was my constant inspiration. She also bore the weight for 20 years of the impending surgery.

I wish to share the details of my story so that I may help others who are facing this daunting surgery and pay forward the advice I received that was most helpful.

My quick message for everyone facing open heart surgery for a mitral valve repair is a positive one - don’t be afraid, you’re going to be fine, it’s easier to get through than you are likely imagining. The surgery has a near 100% success rate.

THE FULL STORY

You can read the full story at this link:

My Open Heart Warming Story - THE FULL STORY

I would love to hear your feedback. I will try to reply to everyone who leaves a comment.