From Heart Murmur to Half Dome
Greg’s TAVR Story
When Greg Manning hiked to the top of Yosemite National Park’s Half Dome, he knew it marked a milestone, not just in miles or elevation, but in how far he’d come since his heart valve replacement.
The 16-mile trek, which includes an elevation gain close to 5,000 feet, would be a challenge for anyone. For Greg, it was proof of his renewed health, endurance, and strength.
I don’t think I could have done it without the valve. We never had to stop because of fatigue or because I was out of breath. I wouldn’t have been able to do that before.
Greg’s path to surgery began many years earlier. He didn’t even have any obvious symptoms at first. His journey began when his primary care provider detected a heart murmur at a routine physical.
“About four years ago, my doctor found it and started doing echocardiograms every other year,” he says. “Over time, the numbers kept going down until I reached a point where I needed to consider next steps.”
When his valve measurements reached that serious level, Greg’s cardiology team, including Dr. Andres Medina and Dr. Mohammed Hassan, Cardiothoracic Surgeons at Lakeland Regional Health, helped him review his options. Those included traditional open-heart surgery or Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR).
TAVR is a minimally invasive procedure used to replace a diseased aortic valve that isn’t opening or closing properly. Instead of open-heart surgery, doctors guide a new valve into place through a small incision in the leg and expand it inside the existing valve. TAVR helps to improve blood flow, reduce symptoms like fatigue or shortness of breath, and allows for quicker recovery with less time in the hospital.
Greg had his TAVR procedure in 2024, staying just one night in the hospital. Within days, he was walking regularly, and he was back to work within a week.
“My experience was extremely positive,” he said.
With renewed stamina, Greg completed the Half Dome hike with his son and is now planning future climbs, possibly Mt. Elbert in Colorado. At 14,439’, it’s the highest peak in Colorado and the second highest peak in the continental United States.
If he had to make the decision again, he would choose TAVR every time.
“TAVR just made sense for me,” he said. “It was less invasive with a quicker recovery.”
Lifesaving Care
If you have been told you have a heart murmur or aortic stenosis, talk with your cardiologist about whether TAVR may be right for you.
Lakeland Regional Health Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery
