Active patient looks forward to healthier future after expert heart care at Beacon Kalamazoo

For most of his life, 62‑year‑old Walter Myles defined himself by movement—lifting, hauling, walking miles each day at work and keeping himself fit ever since he began strength training in high school.

“I’ve always stayed active,” he said. “Even pushing 60, I was still fast at what I did. Muscle tone mattered to me. It was kind of my self‑esteem since I was a scrawny kid growing up.”

But over time, something began to change. After a bout of COVID‑19 in 2021, Walter noticed he was becoming short of breath. He needed inhalers. Then came a sleep study that revealed he wasn’t getting enough oxygen at night, and he began sleeping with a BiPAP. As the months passed, walking across the warehouse or climbing onto a forklift became more difficult.

“I just thought it was long hours and the heat,” he said. “I push myself hard. I didn’t want to admit something was wrong.”

By the summer of 2025, however, the symptoms grew too strong to ignore.

“I’d come home, take a shower, and I’d have to put on my BiPAP just to breathe easier,” Walter said. “I was slowing down more than I wanted to admit.”

Everything changed the Monday before Labor Day, when Walter left work early feeling unusually weak. His wife drove him to Beacon Kalamazoo.

“I always heard Borgess, now Beacon Kalamazoo, was the best hospital in Michigan for heart care,” he said. “My wife worked next door at the hospitality house for years, and we believed God was guiding us there.”

Finding answers

Within 24 hours, Beacon’s cardiology team had answers. A catheterization revealed that Walter’s aortic valve was failing, and one artery was 80% blocked. Aortic valve disease, which occurs when the valve’s flaps stiffen or fuse, can lead to severe fatigue, shortness of breath and life‑threatening heart strain.

In Walter’s case, his doctors suspected a congenital bicuspid aortic valve, a condition where the valve forms with only two leaflets instead of three. Over decades, this can gradually wear out the valve.

As soon as his doctors explained the risks, Walter didn’t hesitate.

“They woke me up and said, ‘We need to put in a stent right now.’ I said, ‘Let’s get it done.’”

The procedure relieved the blockage, but it also revealed something more: two additional arteries showing developing blockages that couldn’t yet be stented. Walter’s heart, and his long‑term health, needed more help.

Over the next several months, Walter worked closely with Dr. Kerry Paape, a Beacon cardiothoracic surgeon, who specializes in valve disease. She and Walter discussed the difference between a TAVR valve, a bioprosthetic valve usually made from animal tissue, and a mechanical valve, which is designed to last a lifetime.

For someone active like Walter, a mechanical valve offered longevity and stability, though it required open-heart surgery and lifelong blood‑thinner therapy.

“For me, it was about giving myself the best chance,” he said. “I didn’t want to go through another big surgery 10 years from now. I wanted my life back.”

A determined mindset

On December 1, Walter underwent open-heart surgery at Beacon Kalamazoo, receiving a mechanical aortic valve and additional treatment for the developing arterial blockages. The procedure went smoothly.

“They told me when they put my breastbone back together, it actually snapped into place better than expected,” Walter said with a laugh. “I joke that I paid a surgeon to break the first bone I ever had.”

Recovery wasn’t easy, but Walter found reasons to stay positive.

“The team was great. You could tell they were working hard. They made sure I had what I needed.”

He appreciated the nurses for their patience, honesty, and support. He also connected well with Dr. Tim Fischell, an interventional cardiologist at the Beacon Kalamazoo Heart Institute, who had treated Walter’s blocked artery earlier in his care.

After Walter’s valve surgery, Dr. Fischell continued supporting his recovery and helping guide his ongoing treatment plan.

“Walter came to us with significant challenges, but what stood out immediately was his determination,” Dr. Fischell said. “From the beginning, he made it clear he wanted to get back to the life he loved—and that drive has played a huge role in his recovery.”

Walter’s ongoing cardiac care is now monitored by cardiologist Dr. Ryan Jamoua at the Beacon Heart Institute.

Being home afterward was more challenging than Walter expected. Weight‑lifting restrictions meant that carrying a jug of milk took effort. His usual drive and energy felt distant.

“I’m not someone who likes sitting around,” he said. “I missed people. I missed being productive.” Cold weather made it harder to get outside, which affected him mentally. But he kept going.

The turning point came when Walter began cardiac rehabilitation at Beacon Health & Fitness.

“I was pumped for rehab,” he said. “I’d lost 20 pounds of muscle, and I wanted my strength back.”

The structured workouts, monitoring and coaching renewed his confidence. “They answered my questions, encouraged me, pushed me when I needed it. In the last three weeks, my self‑esteem has gone way up.”

Ready for anything

Today, Walter feels better than he has in years, both physically and emotionally. He’s off certain medications that affected his mood, he’s rebuilding muscle and he’s looking forward again.

“What I’m most excited about is going back to work,” he said. “I know that sounds crazy to some people, but I’m ready. I miss moving. I miss doing things.”

He also hopes his experience encourages others who may be putting off a diagnosis.

“Don’t wait,” he said. “If they tell you that you need a valve replacement, do it. For me, the mechanical valve made sense because I’m active. I wanted something that would last. And Beacon did a great job. I’d recommend it to anyone.”

Looking back, Walter sees every step — every inhaler, every test, every difficult moment — as part of what brought him to a healthier future.

“God put the right people in my path,” he said. “Beacon took care of me. And now I get my life back.”