Cleveland Clinic saved my bacon more than once. 

On a fishing trip in Belize, I was up all night, coughing. A doctor thought it was a cold and gave me antibiotics, but it didn’t get better. I ended up getting an echocardiogram1, and when I was on the treadmill, they came running out, shouting “Stop!” Turns out I had an aortic valve prolapse2. 

I was referred to Cleveland Clinic, where Dr. Griffin3 is still my doctor after all these years. I was told that I had maybe two weeks to live. I went from supposedly having a cold to confronting my mortality. It was surreal. 

Fortunately, I got in for surgery with Dr. Cosgrove4, who was able to sew the leaflets in my heart. Basically, he gave me my life back. I’m so grateful. 

Since then, I’ve gone back to Cleveland Clinic for several other issues, including diverticulitis, prostate cancer and melanoma. If something is wrong, I wouldn’t even consider going anyplace else. They have experts in so many fields — and you can trust their expertise. Based on my experience, if Cleveland Clinic can’t do it, it can’t be done. 

 

When he isn’t fishing, John Kronberg loves skiing. 

Photo of John Kronberg and his daughter, Kristina

John Kronberg and his daughter, Kristina. | Photo: Courtesy of John Kronberg

Notes

  1. A test to assess heart function.
  2. A leaky heart valve.
  3. Brian Griffin, MD, is Section Head of Cardiovascular Imaging.
  4. Cardiac surgeon Delos “Toby” Cosgrove, MD, went on to serve as CEO and President of Cleveland Clinic from 2004 to 2017.