A Life-Changing Health Scare for a New Jersey Police Officer

Paul DeGeorge woke up one night feeling a heavy pressure on his chest. For a moment, he thought his 4-year-old son was snuggled against him. It wouldn’t have been unusual, especially after he’d fallen asleep on the couch post his late shift as a police officer. But upon opening his eyes, there was no child in sight, just the unsettling weight.

“That was like, ‘Oh my God, something’s up here,’” DeGeorge, 49, reflected. He felt confused. He had always considered himself healthy and active, practicing jiujitsu and coaching kids’ sports. As an officer with New Jersey Transit’s Special Operations Division, he was always on the move. There was no family history of heart issues, so he decided to take precaution and drove himself to the emergency room at Atlantic Health Morristown Medical Center, where doctors conducted numerous tests. Days passed without any solid answers.

“I was terrified. You don’t know what they’re going to find, what’s going on,” he recalled.

Eventually, a cardiologist discovered a problem with DeGeorge’s aortic valve. Normally, this valve acts as a gateway for blood flow, featuring three flaps. DeGeorge had just two—what’s known as a bicuspid aortic valve. This condition emerges during fetal development and might lead to complications with blood circulation or even risk of tearing in the aorta.

Dr. Benjamin van Boxtel, the hospital’s surgical director at the Atlantic Aortic Center, mentioned that symptoms for those with a bicuspid aortic valve often don’t manifest for years. They might feel mild shortness of breath or fatigue. However, DeGeorge’s intense pressure was a significant red flag.

“When someone comes in and they have chest tightness and chest pressure, that’s an end-stage symptom,” van Boxtel explained.

Facing Major Surgery

To address the issue, DeGeorge would need major open-heart surgery. There are a few treatment options, van Boxtel indicated. The most common is replacing the damaged bicuspid valve with either a mechanical valve or a bioprosthetic valve from cow tissue. However, opting for the mechanical valve would necessitate significant lifestyle changes for DeGeorge, including lifelong blood thinners and giving up contact sports. On the other hand, the bovine valve was unlikely to last more than 15 years, likely leading to another surgery in the future.

A third option, the Ross procedure, intrigued DeGeorge. This complex method involves replacing the defective aortic valve with the patient’s own pulmonary valve, as it tends to be in better condition. The original pulmonary valve is then swapped out for a cadaver valve.

Van Boxtel described the procedure as “musical chairs of the heart,” something even surgeons find wild. Nonetheless, he aimed to help DeGeorge feel healthy like a 40-year-old once again.

Feeling intimidated yet hopeful, DeGeorge chose the Ross procedure. It seemed to offer the best chance for a normal life without repeated open-heart surgeries. Should there be complications later on, they could be addressed through a less invasive catheter procedure.

A Successful Recovery

About a week and a half later, DeGeorge, accompanied by his wife and cousin, arrived at the hospital. He couldn’t shake the nerves about the surgery but felt relieved to fix the faulty valve once and for all.

“I’d be lying if I said I slept well the night before,” he admitted.

The surgery lasted approximately six hours. Due to the presence of antibodies in his blood, the surgical team needed to monitor him closely throughout the operation. Despite these challenges, the procedure went well.

“Sometimes you’ve got to know when to go quickly and when to slow down, and we managed to do just that with Paul,” van Boxtel noted.

Looking Ahead

Shortly after the surgery, DeGeorge could sit up with minimal pain. Within days, he was walking again. Van Boxtel remarked that recovery typically goes well, especially for younger patients undergoing Ross procedures.

Now, eighteen months post-surgery, DeGeorge feels better than ever. He was honored at a recent New York Jets game and has resumed full duties at work, as well as coaching and practicing jiujitsu. Most importantly, he can keep up with his kids.

“I feel fantastic now,” he said. “I couldn’t feel better.”

Although DeGeorge will need ongoing follow-up care, including regular check-ins with a cardiologist and blood pressure monitoring for the first year, he’s just content to be back to normal life. “I’m happy being back at work. I’m happy to feel good and I’m happy to be with my kids,” he shared. “I was very fortunate. This story could be very different. I couldn’t be happier to be where I am now.”