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Dr. Joe Phillips
Dr. Joe Phillips, a retired optometrist and inventor, was born with a heart murmur. His heart defect wasn’t a major problem for him until his freshman year in college. As a freshman football player, he often suffered from physical discomfort, shortness of breath and angina. At that time, his physicians weren’t sure if he had a septal defect or mitral stenosis, but he was told that he needed heart valve replacement surgery. Joe didn’t want to undergo surgery and decided to hold off.
Periodically over the next 40 years, he suffered some physical discomfort. Each time he felt the discomfort, he slowed down until it passed and then returned to his full-speed-ahead lifestyle. Not knowing how long he had to live, he developed a “fatalist attitude” and lived his life to the fullest.
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In October 2004, the pain and discomfort were so severe that he finally went to see his cardiologist. He was diagnosed with a calcified aortic valve and again was told he needed heart valve replacement surgery. Joe was still apprehensive about the surgery and decided to wait. In January 2005, he became extremely weak and tired. It bothered him that he was becoming a burden to his wife and he could see her concern for him.
In January 2005, at age 67, Joe finally agreed to have the surgery he so desperately needed. On January 24, 2005, he received a Carpentier-Edwards PERIMOUNT Magna aortic heart valve at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach, CA. |
Four months after the surgery, Joe was glad that he decided to have the surgery and relieved that his surgery was over. He was anxious to get out of the hospital and went home after just 3 days. Since his recovery, Joe has quit smoking, lowered his cholesterol, has more energy and feels much better. Since then, he has returned to his favorite hobbies of skiing and inventing. He is also a pilot and is eager to get back to flying.
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