I had a lung x-ray back in July of this year that showed a spot on my lung.

I was referred to a pulmonologist who required a CT scan before I could see them.
I got the CT scan in August and saw the Pulmonologist in September. The CT scan 
of my lungs was clean - no spot on my lung. I was told the spot on the lung x-ray 
was a shadow from ossification (most likely from an old rib injury). My lungs are in 
great shape.

I got a call the next day(?) from my primary care nurse practitioner that the CT scan
showed another problem: a severely dilated aortic root and a some dilation in the aortic arch.
I was referred to a cardiology group for an echocardiogram and evaluation.

On Saturday October 5, I got the echocardiogram, but (for some reason) no evaluation.The 
echocardiogram confirmed the CT findings. I was again referred to a cardiologist.

On Monday November 25, I finally saw a cardiologist. After reading my CT scan and 
echocardiogram, she did her own EKG and said it was time to see a cardiovascular 
surgeon. She sent an email directly to the head of cardiovascular surgery at Stanford Hospital.

Tuesday November 26, the office of Dr. Woo at Stanford called to schedule an appointment.
Wednesday November 27, I went to Stanford and saw Dr. Woo. He said I need surgery "now" and
that he could fit me in for surgery on December 16. I made the appointment for surgery.

My brother in law suggested I get a second opinion from Dr. Castro at Sequoia Hospital. I was 
grateful for the suggestion and even more grateful that he was able to get me in touch with
Dr. Castro's office on very short notice. 

I saw Dr. Castro on Tuesday December 2. He confirmed that I need surgery.
The surgery he described was slightly less invasive and requires less time on the heart-lung
machine than the surgery described by Dr. Woo at Stanford. The mortality rate quoted by Dr. Castro was also lower than that quoted by Dr. Woo. 

I decided to have Dr. Castro do the surgery on Wednesday December 18 (and canceled by surgery at Stanford)