A Simple Gift

Sarah is constantly looking for things she can do for others or simply to show her appreciation. In early 2019 Sarah was unexpectedly diagnosed with a heart murmur. An aortic valve replacement was required. Admitted to Morristown Medical Center’s Heart Unit, a prominent surgeon did the surgery using a relatively new surgical technique. No longer does valve replacement involve a 4 to 6 hour procedure requiring direct surgical access to the heart. Rather, with advanced surgeon training and the amazing development by the United States medical device industry, an artificial valve can now be introduced through a catheter placed in the femoral artery. The non-invasive procedure now takes less than 30 minutes. Sarah was out of the hospital the next day. As an expression of her appreciation, Sarah did a special painting for Juliette, the surgeon’s 3-year-old daughter.