Patient grateful to Beacon team for healing her heart through TAVR procedure
Vikki Jurgonski
For 60 years after recovering from rheumatic fever, Vikki Jurgonski needed careful heart monitoring. She knew that eventually, she would need heart surgery. “It’s just a weight on your mind all the time.”
But thanks to Dr. Troy Weirick, interventional cardiologist, Beacon Medical Group Advanced Cardiovascular Specialists RiverPointe, and the minimally invasive TAVR procedure, her heart is beating strongly again.
“Now it’s fixed, and I don’t have to think about it anymore,” Vikki says. “I can’t get the smile off my face.”
Treatment after a lifetime at risk
From the age of 10, Vikki knew her heart would need attention someday. Her bout with rheumatic fever, a serious illness that can develop from strep throat, left her with an irregular heartbeat, also known as atrial fibrillation, or Afib, and a faulty heart valve.
In recent years, her valve had been getting worse, and she found it harder to breathe. In the winter, the cold air made her chest hurt. As she approached her 70th birthday, Vikki increasingly found herself wondering whether any feelings of fatigue were due to her age, a bad night’s sleep – or her heart.
She could always go to Chicago for care, but Vikki felt like a number there, and she wanted to stay closer to home. Fortunately, a physician friend recommended she see Dr. Weirick. After reviewing her history and evaluating her condition, he offered two treatment options: open-heart surgery, which would allow him to place a stent at the same time he replaced her heart valve, or the less invasive transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedure, which would need to be followed by a stent procedure later.
“Surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) and TAVR are both safe and effective methods of valve replacement,” Dr. Weirick explains. “We select the best procedure for a patient based on their anatomy and coexisting medical conditions.”
Because of previous breast cancer treatments that compromised her skin, open surgery would be especially painful for Vikki. She preferred the TAVR procedure, during which the surgeon threads a catheter to the heart via an artery in the upper leg. Through the catheter, the doctor places a new valve into the heart.
“I loved that they listened. He very much made me a part of the process,” Vikki says. “I didn’t feel intimidated or scared about the surgery because he explained it so well. Everyone who works with him was amazing. They always took my calls and answered every single question.”
Dr. Troy Weirick
Vikki was supported by a comprehensive heart team, including interventional cardiology, cardiac surgery, anesthesiology and expert clinical nursing. “The team individualizes care and guides each patient through the heart valve process,” Dr. Weirick says. “Our nurse coordinators play a critical role in communicating with patients and organizing their journey.”
Vikki wasn’t even nervous when she went to Memorial Hospital of South Bend for the procedure in early December. “I felt so confident in them. It was just great,” she says. “From the moment you walk in, it was an incredible experience. The receptionist, the nurses, the anesthesiologist — they were so kind.”
After coming out of anesthesia, Vikki immediately felt the improvement in her heart.
“When I woke up, I felt great. I really did. I felt like, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m breathing better!’” she says. “It’s so good. Feeling like this is incredible.”
Many patients feel the benefits of TAVR the day of their surgery, Dr. Weirick says. “Because there is no large, painful chest incision, they’re up and walking the evening of surgery with little or no pain and minimal shortness of breath,” he says. “Over 90% of our patients go home the day following their TAVR with minimal restrictions.”
Back in action
As a very active person, Vikki is delighted to have her energy back. She’s taking Pilates classes several days a week and has signed up for Beacon’s Cardiac Rehabilitation program. She also uses her newfound energy when leading the team of volunteers at River Essence Group, a nonprofit organization that supports the beautification and vitality of the downtown Niles community.
“We live in a little old town. We didn’t have anyone to do fall or Christmas decorations or to put flowers out. I said, ‘Let’s quit complaining about it!,'” she says. “It’s been fun and made our town happier.”
Reflecting on her health journey, Vikki is grateful to have such exceptional heart care close to home. The thought of traveling to Chicago, finding a place for her husband to stay, finding the right doctor and so on, would have been wearisome. More importantly, she worried about the speed of assistance should she have a problem after surgery.
“It was so comforting knowing that if I had any problems, these wonderful people were right here.”
Learn more about Beacon’s personalized care
Vascular interventional radiologists diagnose and treat diseases by using a variety of nonsurgical treatments and tests and rely on image-guided tools. If necessary, your primary care provider will refer you to our team.
Beacon’s Vascular Interventional Radiology program offers streamlined access to innovative care personalized to patient’s needs. We deliver safe, effective and compassionate care through minimally invasive, targeted treatments using the latest imaging technology. Beacon providers are board certified, and fellowship trained, meaning you don’t have to leave town for excellent care.
