Robert’s Story

Site created on October 1, 2018

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.


To update those who are not aware of Bob's heart history I will give you some background.  At age 35 he had his aortic valve replaced due to aortic stenosis.  We were living in the Boston area at the time.  About 18 years later, at age 55 his heart valve was recalled.  You read it right, recalled!!  This recall actually saved his life as they found an aneurysm just outside his recalled aortic valve.  The Doctors at Stanford replaced his valve, about 6 inches of his aorta and his aortic arch with dacron.  This was a very long and involved surgery.  But all went well.  Last fall he began to have shortness of breath.  He was referred up to UC Davis Medical Center.  His diagnosis then was a severely regurgitating mitral valve.  UC Davis had a surgeon who thought he could repair the valve and improve his lifestyle.   The Dr. was not terribly successful and Bob continued to have shortness of breath.  This year it became so bad the Dr. referred him back to Stanford.  We have spent the last 6 weeks going back and forth to Stanford (150 miles round trip) meeting with doctors, having endless tests and finally the surgeon, Dr. Woo has determined to go forth with the surgery. Since it is the third time going in through his chest, it is a very high risk surgery.  Bob has chosen to go ahead despite the risk.  They have also found one blocked artery on the backside of the heart.  They will repair it with a stent on Monday, the day before the big surgery.  Tuesday, October 9 is when the mitral valve will be replaced as well as the pulmonary valve repaired.  


I will try to update this site at least once a day.  I hope this will a good tool to keep everyone who is interested informed with minimal impact on me.  Thanking everyone in advance for the good thoughts and prayers.  


Marcia (and Bob)

Newest Update

Merry Christmas to Everyone

Journal entry by Marcia Umberger —

Here we are nearly at Christmas Day.  It has been 10 weeks since Bob's surgery.  We went to Stanford on Monday for a checkup.  The Dr. said he is right where they expect him to be in his recovery.  Bob still thinks he should be much better.  The Dr. reminded him that this was a huge surgery and his age of 72 makes the recovery slower than last time.  He released Bob from any restrictions and urged him to slowly get more aggressive in his rehab process. He doesn't want to see him for 6 months.  I'm pleased about that because the drive home was a BEAR!!!  The longest yet - 5 hours.  We did take a break for dinner and that helped but we still didn't get home until 8:30 p.m.  We wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy New Year.  This will probably be the last of my posts so again, I want to thank everyone who has followed Bob's story and wished him well along the way.  I have gotten a lot of comments they people have enjoyed reading about it and it sure helped me "get the word out" to many people quickly.  Again, THANKS and until "we meet again".    Love, Marcia & Bob
Read More of the journal titled "Merry Christmas to Everyone"
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