TAVR procedure at St. Mary Medical Center is a ‘blessing’ for Maria Breeser
December 8, 2025Categories: Patient Testimonials
Maria Breeser, 74, a longtime resident of Newtown, is extremely grateful that minimally invasive procedures like the transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) are available just up the road at St. Mary Medical Center.
Performed by interventional cardiologist Hitesh Raheja, MD, who also serves as the director of the Structural Heart Program at St. Mary, TAVR involves the replacement of a narrowed heart valve with an artificial one via a catheter that’s inserted into a blood vessel in the leg/groin. This procedure takes approximately one hour to complete, with patients—including Breeser—typically up and moving only four hours post-surgery.
“Compared to the alternative of open-heart surgery, this was just a 1-cm incision in the groin and that was it. I’m very thankful,” says Breeser. “It was a really good experience, and I would recommend the team at St. Mary.”
Breeser was diagnosed with severe aortic valve stenosis in July 2025. While she had yet to experience major symptoms, such as intense shortness of breath, she did notice a decrease in energy during everyday activities. For example, she felt some exhaustion and chest pressure while walking her beloved Golden Retriever, Daisy. It was determined that Breeser was the perfect candidate for TAVR.
“This procedure is done when the aortic valve is severely narrowed to the point that it obstructs the flow of the blood from the heart to the rest of the body,” says Dr. Raheja. “This, in turn, leads to symptoms of fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain and dizziness. Left untreated, the condition leads to heart failure and eventual death.”
Though Breeser was initially unfamiliar with the specifics of TAVR, she quickly felt informed thanks to Dr. Raheja. Plus, she was already aware of the quality of care that St. Mary Medical Center delivers, having received a pacemaker from cardiac electrophysiologist Ashwani Gupta, MD, the year prior.
“Once I met Dr. Raheja, I knew I was in good hands. He was very knowledgeable, very reassuring. And of course, I read his credentials and was impressed that he had done two fellowships,” says Breeser. “I was happy that I qualified for the TAVR and that he’d be the one doing the procedure.”
The TAVR was completed on Oct. 7, 2025. Everything went smoothly, with Breeser up and moving just four hours post-surgery. She was discharged the following day, but not before a special visit from one of St. Mary’s therapy dogs, also named Daisy. Once home, there were only a handful of precautions that Breeser had to take, such as limiting her trips up and down the stairs and not lifting heavy items.
“[TAVR] avoids cutting the chest open for valve replacement. In the past, patients who were older or not good candidates for open-heart surgery would just die from the disease, as there were no other options. But now, due to availability of this procedure, these patients can live long and healthy lives. The recovery is very fast, with patients getting up and walking in four hours, and being discharged the next day,” says Dr. Raheja. “Most patients can resume their normal daily activities the next day.”
Several months post-surgery, Breeser is feeling better than ever. The exhaustion she felt previously is non-existent and she’s back to daily walks with Daisy. Additionally, she has a new quip up her sleeve for the holidays, given the fact that her replacement valve is made from pig tissue.
“My joke now is that I’m 99 percent Italian and one percent pig,” Breeser says with a laugh.
For anyone who might need a TAVR, Breeser shares some words of advice: “Don’t be afraid. With any procedure, there’s always risk. But if you’re in good hands, you don’t have to worry. And the fact that there is now a procedure for aortic valve replacement that doesn’t necessitate open-heart surgery is amazing—and a blessing.”