Testimonials

When I hear “it’s impossible”, I smile. This response, “it’s impossible”… it doesn’t disarm me. Actually, it mobilizes me. It has taught me over time to look without despair. To always go forward with confidence. It has taught me that we are sculptors who shape our lives with our own hands and who choose what to carve in that clay: a resigned face that assumes that “that’s the way it was meant to be”… or on the contrary, a confident smile in our own resource of creation, rediscovery and power.

I return to my past self. I look at the child very happy with his childhood. I was no more than 6 years old when I experienced my first fainting spells. I was constantly tired, but those around me blamed it on the fact that I was energetic and wouldn’t sit still for a moment. No one had any suspicion that I might be suffering from something. Now that I think about it… I was right to enjoy and be focused on those moments, because life has shown me that we often miss the essential – the present – and the awareness that living in the moment is now.

I say that because at 38 I was about to fall in the street and in the aftermath, find out that I might not be alive today. My heart had probably been suffering for a long time without my knowing it.

In 2015, following a cardiology consultation, I received a serious diagnosis: hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. I was to learn that my heart muscle was enlarged and my heart could not provide the necessary blood flow to function properly. Hence, the faintness, fatigue, and exhaustion I felt even when doing simple things (dressing, climbing stairs, house chores).

The situation seemed manageable. The cardiologist had prescribed a treatment and only estimated at the time that the evolution of the disease was likely to lead to surgery in the future, maybe in 2020 (in about 5 years after receiving the diagnosis).

The end of 2018 found me well, but spring brought a personal situation that put me to a hard test. I lost my father. I lost my job and was dragged into an unfair lawsuit. I felt then that a lot would change in my life and I was mentally prepared to face it, but my heart seemed unprepared to face so much painful news.

In 2019 I went to the cardiologist again, who told me that my heart muscle was thickened, that the form of the disease has become obstructive, hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, that the mitral valve is insufficient and can no longer pump blood to the heart. The state of fatigue was critical. I couldn’t climb another floor without being exhausted. I understood that it was time for heart surgery, which I thought I was ready for, but in fact I wasn’t.

I then started to investigate where I could have the operation, but I understood that the possibilities in Europe were limited, that there were 5 centers dedicated to these diseases, fortunately one in Bucharest, Romania.

Because the medical center is private and the cost of the intervention was huge, and my financial possibilities were limited, but also because I had a health insurance in Germany, I tried there first, but I was given a stupefying answer: they would intervene, only if emergency treatment was established. Which meant that I had to wait for a syncope or a sudden event, falling in the street maybe, to be able to benefit from surgery in their state system.

I came back to Romania, with the intention to go further and learn more about the center specialized in HOCM surgery. I consult with the cardiologist who recommends Dr. Lucian Dorobantu, the surgeon who coordinates the only center dedicated to hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy in Romania – European Cardiomypathy Center.

I looked with confidence at the man, before the professional: “I leave my life in your hands”, I said from the first moment to surgeon Lucian Dorobantu, who inspired a complete confidence. He explained to me everything I needed to know. The operation he performs for HOCM is done in Romania through a special technique – “one piece” septal myectomy. The surgeon assured me that they would do their best to do the surgery with mitral valve preservation, which is a huge benefit to the quality of life after the surgery.

I walked into the operating room in exceptional spirits, with a smile on my face, seemingly looking forward to a new beginning. I wasn’t scared at all by the fact that it was a classic, open surgery. I did my research and knew that I was in the hands of the best team of specialists in this kind of surgery – hocm specialized surgery through septal myectomy- a team of young people, but very experienced.

The surgery went well and the recovery was unexpectedly bearable. I set myself the goal of recovering as quickly as possible. I took it as an act of normality. I got up as soon as I was allowed to and started mobilizing, receiving congratulations from the medical team. I was told I was an example.

I believe in the power of example in everything I do in life. I believe in the power of example and in life as an act of courage. Sometimes life gives us the “RESET” to remember that the first place on the “To do list” is ourselves. Let’s learn to cherish the opportunity. To understand what is worth investing our precious time in. It’s important what people we choose to accompany us on this journey. What we choose to let be, and what we choose to let go. On the hospital bed, I re-examined my life in depth and there I understood things like this. I prepared a new “To do list” for my personal and professional life.

After heart surgery, I felt life had to start from scratch, on a new footing. No time for regrets, no time for remorse, no time for compromise. Life is, in fact, what happens between two heartbeats. Maybe I had to go through this test to understand.

Ever since then, I’ve always looked forward with confidence. But every now and then, I look back. I like to revisit the lessons I didn’t understand then. Taking life this way isn’t something you learn in school. To assimilate intelligence, you have to learn. To get wise, you have to live.

“Why me? Why now? Why, in general?” These are the kinds of questions I’ve excluded from the equation of my life. I’ve got it all figured out. I’ve assumed everything. Not with resignation, but with strength. I chose to carve on my face a confident smile in our power to rise after each struggle with the HEART up and with gratitude in the people God sends us, so that we can move forward with wisdom.

I am well today and look at my tattoo from time to time. I have tattooed on my hand my heart and the symbol of this unique place for me, the place where I was reborn and where hundreds of hearts beat in unison for other hearts in need of intervention and the hope of a new beginning. I am grateful to the doctors of the European Cardiomyopathy Center and Dr. Lucian Dorobantu for this RESET&RESTART. They are the doctors who daily fight against the clock for strong hearts that say “I can do it, too!”.

“The fact that HOCM patients return after surgery with a life expectancy superimposable on that of someone who has never suffered from heart disease is the real benefit of this surgery. I enjoy receiving feedback and even pictures sent by patients after surgery from vacations or other special moments in their lives and knowing that our team has helped the patient continue their life story and re-learn to enjoy the natural. That’s all that matters!” Professor Lucian Dorobantu, MD, PhD, Senior cardiovascular surgeon specialized in HOCM surgery

When I hear “it’s impossible”, I smile. I suggest we think in the spirit of “Yes, I can!”. Here’s a new trend that we as a HOCM community would do well to adopt. It’s also the philosophy of the surgeon who operated on me, who inspired me to believe that doctor and patient are an inseparable team in this race. “Full stop and from the beginning. I look at my tattoo all the time. Sometimes I look at my surgery scar. In my mirror I see a strong person. Although life may often teach us a hard lesson, I continue to believe in our power to ‘be’.”