Godefroy Bourbonnais

		At the local hospital, the cardiologist informed him that he had a calcified aortic valve. Early the next day, Godefroy had an echocardiogram which confirmed this diagnosis. His valve was opening 0.8 cm (a normal valve should be opening between 2 and 4 cm). Because of this restricted opening, his heart was overworked, needing to pump 64 times harder than it should. Usually, calcification of aortic valves occurs in older people. However, Godefroy had a bicuspid valve, a congenital abnormality; instead of the normal three-leaflet valve, he had a two-leaflet valve which works less efficiently and can lead to early calcification of the valve.
His condition was very serious and he needed emergency surgery. The following day Godefroy met with a cardiac surgeon, Dr. Benoit Devarennes at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal. With his current condition, he was given only six months to one year to live and was told he could die at any moment. He needed a heart valve replacement. Dr. Devarennes discussed the types of valves that could be used for replacement. Mechanical valves required ongoing anticoagulant therapy,and Godefroy wanted to avoid this medication and its associated risks of bleeding and strokes. This decision was supported by a second opinion at the Mayo Clinic, which he was able to obtain quickly through a close relative who was a physician there.
Godefroy, being young, wanted to be free of daily medication and regular monitoring. He also had young children and wanted to be able to enjoy sports and engage in all the normal activities, such as camping, skiing, and biking. With a mechanical valve, even a minor fall or bump could become life-threatening due to the use of blood thinners. Turning to biological valves, Dr. Devarennes indicated that there was a new type of valve that had been available in Europe for some time but just recently was approved for sale in Canada. It was the latest technology, and Dr. Devarennes had implanted this valve, the Carpentier-Edwards PERIMOUNT Magna valve, in two other patients. Godefroy chose to receive this valve and underwent a successful surgery on February 20, 2003. He was sent home just five days later.
Three weeks after his return home, the basement flooded. With the help of his wife Nathalie, he had enough strength to move a large grandfather clock and save it from damage. A few months after his surgery, Godefroy began to notice a positive change in his energy level. That summer, just 6 months after surgery, he dug up the pipes in his backyard, moving 10 tons of earth in order to solve his home’s drainage problem, with the use of only a shovel and a wheel barrel! In hindsight, before the surgery, he had been tired and had attributed his chronic fatigue to his demanding job. His fatigue and stress level impacted his entire family, as he had little energy or patience when he arrived home from work. After his aortic valve replacement, both his energy level and relationship with his family improved dramatically.
		Godefroy writes,"The greatest gift I received was of course the possibility to live on. The second greatest gift was the elimination of chronic fatigue. This procedure changed my life. I can now fully enjoy my kids and wife as I am much calmer, patient, and understanding than I ever used to be. Thanks to Edwards Lifesciences personnel, I have regained my life and most importantly I am able to continue enjoying my family as I am now a better person, father, and husband." "Thank you Nathalie, Christophe and Alexanne for being there when I needed you!"