Published: July 21, 2025
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
When Jonny Cutrer was in his early 20s and training for mini triathlons, he began to experience chest pain. After extensive testing, he found out he was born with a bicuspid aortic valve: A valve in his heart was not properly formed. This issue affects blood flow in the heart, and Jonny required a valve replacement.
Typical anatomy is to have a tricuspid aortic valve, where three leaflets, called cusps,open and shut with the heartbeat. Jonny’s aortic valve had only two, which can lead to serious heart complications.
Fast-forward about 12 years after the valve replacement, and Jonny developed a cough that didn’t go away. Tests for COVID-19 and other illnesses ruled out infections, but the coughing continued, even getting more intense. Worrisome bloodwork, however, indicated extreme heart failure.
“I was admitted directly to Norton Brownsboro Hospital, and I learned while I was there that I was experiencing all of the cough and everything from congestive heart failure symptoms,” Jonny said. “Because my valve was failing, I had fluid backing up into my lungs.”
In cases where a patient is young, a mechanical valve or tissue valve usually is placed through open heart surgery. A less-invasive procedure, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), is generally an option for those who have already had previous heart surgery and whose valve has deteriorated and needs replacement. In Jonny’s case, because he already had surgery, he had a level of scar tissue that made the TAVR procedure possible.
Daniel P. Rothschild, M.D., interventional cardiologist; and Kevin A. Graham, M.D., cardiovascular surgeon; both with Norton Heart & Vascular Institute, performed the procedure to save Jonny’s life.“Jonny’s heart needed intervention and fast. Our team knew TAVR was the right procedure, and we’re glad he landed with us. We had the skills to save his life,” Dr. Rothschild said.
TAVR involves a catheter inserted into a blood vessel in the groin and guided to the heart with advanced imaging. The doctor then implants a replacement valve made of cow or pig tissue into the valve’s place. Once the new valve is in place, a balloon expands and presses the replacement valve into the damaged valve.
“When I had my valve replaced at 20 years old in 2011, at the time that was the latest and greatest valve,” Jonny said. “People found out as years passed that whenever that valve failed, it didn’t fail gradually — it failed very, very rapidly.”
Jonny went from having a normally functioning valve to one that was barely working.
Norton Heart & Vascular Institute’s structural cardiology team worked through insurance approvals — and denials — to get Jonny on the surgery schedule as quickly as possible.“When a patient presents with a condition like this, it is all hands on deck. Everyone worked to ensure Jonny got treatment as soon as possible.” Dr. Rothschild said.
The procedure itself was short, and Jonny was able to go home the following day. After a few months in cardiac rehabilitation, he was back to normal.
In his job at Network for Hope, formerly Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates, Jonny’s days are long and sometimes strenuous. The nonprofit organization coordinates lifesaving organ donations in Kentucky.
“I sometimes work around the clock, and what I’m doing contributes to saving lives,” he said.
Thanks to TAVR and the team at Norton Heart & Vascular Institute, he is back to helping save others.