With permission from the patient and her husband, sharing the journey of a 36-year-old woman from Hudson Valley, New York, who is now 4 weeks post mitral valve replacement surgery via a traditional open-heart sternotomy incision.

She initially presented with symptoms of shortness of breath, palpitations, and decreased exercise tolerance, leading to the discovery of a restricted, stenotic mitral valve attributed to a chronic inflammatory autoimmune process on echocardiography.

Despite being ready for discharge on post-operative day 3, she stayed an extra day due to the distance of her travel back home. A glimpse at her wound illustrates the successful and relatively painless outcome of a well-performed sternotomy, highlighting both the patient’s comfort and the commendable cosmetic result.

Let’s come together this Heart Month
to prioritize our heart health and make a positive impact! 💓