James White

For most of his life, Jim White has been a very active and athletic man. The former U.S. Marine and retired real estate broker had enjoyed running, working out at the gym, and playing tennis. While running one day at the local YMCA track, Jim remembers passing the one-mile mark and then waking up in an ambulance. Without warning, Jim had experienced sudden cardiac arrest. Luckily, a Vanderbilt doctor and nurse, as well as several YMCA employees trained in CPR, were also exercising at the Y. They performed CPR on Jim, who describes their presence at the track as “a miracle.” Jim was taken to the hospital, where he was observed, given a battery of tests, and told he had a problem with his aortic valve. He was released after two days, and was told that only 2% of those given CPR outside the hospital survive and that he was very fortunate to have been revived.

		Unbeknownst to him, Jim White had developed severe aortic stenosis due to age and heredity, without experiencing any symptoms like chest pain or shortness of breath. Jim’s personal physician, Dr. Samuel Bastain, recommended having surgery immediately because the cardiac arrest could happen again at any time. On December 17, 2007, at age 72, Jim successfully underwent surgery with cardiac surgeon Dr. Michael Petracek at Vanderbilt University Hospital in Nashville, TN. Jim’s aortic valve was replaced with a bovine (cow) pericardial heart valve (Model 3000TFX Carpentier-Edwards PERIMOUNT Magna valve with ThermaFix treatment).
According to Jim, his recovery has been going very smoothly. He has had “zero problems and no pain,” which he and his doctors attribute to his excellent physical condition. Jim is quite eager to return to the activities that have kept him in such great shape. In addition to playing tennis and working out daily, Jim enjoys riding his motorcycle. Jim is very grateful to his doctors and marvels at the “wonders of modern medicine and technology.” Jim knows the successful surgery and recovery will enable him to continue doing the things he was doing before the cardiac arrest, but joked that he might have to start “acting his age a bit more.”