“They made me strong, confident and gave me a new lease life – they made me better than ever.”
Diagnosed at age 10 with Mitro Valve Prolapse and Aortic Stenosis, 52-year-old Jon Gregory underwent aortic valve replacement surgery in March 2024 with Arash Salemi, MD, Clinical Chairman of Cardiothoracic Surgery for RWJBarnabas Health, Northern Region, and Vice Chair of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery.
After completing Cardiac Rehabilitation, Jon is already back to what he loves doing - running. “I've always been an athlete and running became my passion. I ran almost up to the day of surgery. My goal was to get through the procedure so I could heal and get back to it,” Jon explains.
“Dr. Salemi and his team were supportive and very proactive in keeping me informed about appointments and procedures,” Jon shares. He describes Dr. Salemi as showing a lot of compassion during his consultations and ensuring him that this would greatly improve his quality of life.
Jon is appreciative of the techs and nurses at the hospital all the way to rehab who he describes as amazing. “They made me strong, confident and gave me a new lease life – they made me better than ever,” he says.
“Cardiac rehabilitation is a medically-supervised outpatient exercise program that helps cardiac patients take an active role in improving their heart health and living longer after they have undergone a cardiac procedure,” explains Dr. Salemi. “Our Cardiac Rehabilitation team at CBMC makes sure to have an individualized total health and fitness program designed to benefit those patients.”
“Not only was the rehab beneficial, there was comfort in knowing that there was always someone there to watch you. The staff was amazing, helpful, and always welcoming. You form a bond with other patients and encourage and inspire one another to reach your full potential,” shares Jon.
Cardiac rehabilitation is also beneficial for those who have received different types of cardiac surgeries, a coronary stent or been treated for a heart attack. If you think you are eligible for cardiac rehabilitation, make sure you talk to your doctor about the role it could play in your recovery.
Learn more about the cardiac rehabilitation program at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center.