Palestine — a few years ago, Ramiro Romo knew he was dying. a man of faith and humility, he began to make his peace with the Lord. “I told him, ‘I don’t deserve all these years and the blessings you have given me,” Romo recalled. “I started making my peace with God.” Romo’s conversation with God took place the day before he was to be ordained as a deacon for the Catholic Diocese of Tyler, in December 2007. “The day before my ordination at the cathedral, I felt like I was going to die in the motel room,” Romo said. “I was feeling really bad. I didn’t think I was going to make it. I talked to the bishop and told him I didn’t think I was going to make it.” The bishop prayed for Romo and tried to reassure him that he would be OK. The 77-year-old Romo, who has worked in the building and real estate trade since he was a young man, didn’t quite know what was wrong with him, only that he felt tired and weak all the time. Often, he slept in a chair because it was easier on his pained, fatigued body. “I was sick for quite a few years. I used to do everything before I got sick,” said Romo, who with his wife, Felicita, has lived in Crockett for the past 20 years. “I felt worn down,” he continued. “I had been feeling bad since 1994.” Romo had seen doctors in Crockett, Tyler and Palestine for years. he said his doctors would encourage him to sit down and take things easy, something that for the active Romo was near impossible. The doctors would give him new medications, which would usually make him feel better for a while, but eventually the tired and weak feeling would return. The fatigue and pain that slowed Romo the past several years had also taken a toll on his wife of 56 years. “my husband was dying,” an emotional Felicita said. She remembers family members helping her get her husband into the car for the drive over to the cathedral. The next day, on Dec. 8, 2007, Romo was ordained in Tyler and has since served as a deacon at St. Francis of the Tejas Catholic Church in Crockett. “Romy, suffered a lot,” she said about her husband and his many trips back and forth to doctors. “he was so physically weak.” a spiritual and vibrant woman, Felicita enlisted the help of her family members to try to save her husband’s life. a week before Romo was to be ordained, he and his wife were on retreat at the Montserrat Jesuit Retreat House in Dallas when their family members, including grandson Tony Romo, quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, stopped by to visit them. during that visit, Tony noticed that his grandfather did not look well. Felicita took her grandson aside and let him know how seriously ill his grandfather was. “he and his grandma went up to the lake to talk; I was too weak to go with them,” Romo recalled. Felicita admits she discussed her husband’s failing health with Tony and the rest of the family. “We had a family discussion. It was very important to us,” Felicita continued. “my husband had suffered for six years; he was very ill.” The next day, the Romo family went to dinner and again Tony observed his grandfather’s condition. “he said to me, ‘Grandpa, you’re dragging. What’s wrong with you?’” Romo said. Gravely concerned about the Romo patriarch, Tony called one of the doctors who works for the Dallas Cowboys and told him about his grandfather’s health. That phone call put his grandfather in touch with a doctor who could help him. Romo was examined by Dr. Michael Donsky, a cardiologist at Baylor Hospital’s Jack and Jane Hamilton Heart and Vascular Center in Dallas. Dr. Donsky found Romo to be suffering from a leaking heart valve, also known as mitral valve regurgitation. Romo, the cardiologist concluded, was too weak for open heart surgery. “he (Donsky) told me, ‘you really need open heart surgery but you will never make it,’” Romo remembered. The leaking valve in Romo’s heart was causing fluid to build up around his heart, causing his heart to work harder, and slowly killing him. Romo was hospitalized at Baylor for a few days until he was stabilized. Donsky changed Romo’s medicine and told him to wait until an alternative procedure to help him could be found. For the next year and a half, Romo and Donsky stayed in contact between scheduled appointments. in the summer of 2009, the cardiologist informed Romo that a group was developing a new surgery, the MitraClip therapy system, to reduce mitral regurgitation (MR) in a less invasive catheter-based procedure. The doctor also told Romo that he was a very good candidate for the new procedure because it would take less of a toll on his body than open heart surgery. Donsky recommended Romo for the new procedure. Over the next few months, the Romos discussed the options with their family. Romo could either stay on the medication regimen he was on and his health continue to decline, or opt to undergo a new procedure not-yet approved by the FDA. after much consideration and prayer, Romo agreed to undergo the procedure. he said the four-inch thick stack of paperwork he had to read and sign prior to having the procure scared him a bit. The MitraClip device, manufactured by Abbott, is designed to reduce MR by clipping together the leaflets of the mitral valve, one of the four valves of the heart. because MitraClip has not been FDA approved, Romo said he essentially “loaned his body” to a clinical trial in the hopes that it would improve his quality of life. Romo said his grandson was a driving factor in his decision to undergo the cutting-edge surgery. “It’s up to you to loan your body (for this procedure),” Romo said his grandson encouraged him. “he said, “Grandpa it will be a good deed to put your life on the table to save others. We will be so proud of you.”’ Romo thought about his grandson’s advice. “If I die on the table trying to live, it will be better than sitting here like this for the rest of my life,” Romo admitted. On Nov. 19, 2009, Romo was the first to undergo the MitraClip therapy procedure at Baylor Hospital in Dallas as part of the Everest II clinical trial. “before we went into the operating room, my wife called all the doctors together and asked them if they would pray with us. they all agreed,” Romo remembered. “they asked God to bless their hands.” The Romos were told the surgery would take about six hours. When the doctors came out 47 minutes later, Felicita could not believe they were finished. “The doctors, nurses, and anesthetists came out dancing,” she said. “they had the biggest smiles on their faces and were so happy. they said, ‘We’re finished. He’s OK.’ they were so happy.” Romo was hospitalized at Baylor for only three days to make sure there were no complications and so his recovery could be documented for the clinical trial. “It was a miracle,” Romo said. “God has been good to us. I thought I was a goner; but God is awesome.” Felicita agreed. “This surgery is a miracle,” she said. “he is doing really well. God is so awesome to us.” since having the life-saving surgery, Romo’s recovery and overall health has been remarkable. “The first day after the procedure, I felt a difference,” Romo admits. “I started feeling stronger every day. “Now, I feel 100 percent better. I have more energy to do the things I want to do. It (the surgery) was worth it.” recently, Romo returned to his cardiologist for a checkup. “The doctor said I was perfect, one year later,” Romo said. Felicita can attest to her husband’s extraordinary recovery. “The surgery worked too great; he runs me ragged,” she smiled. “I feel like I’m 50 years old again,” Romo laughed. Romo wants to encourage people who are suffering with MR or any illness, to seek answers when it comes to their health. “It’s always nice to have a second opinion,” he stated, remembering that for years he was told he would have to live with the pain and exhaustion. “I want to tell people, ‘Don’t be afraid. Don’t die because of your fear. you might as well die trying to live,’” he continued. Fifteen months after undergoing the MitraClip therapy procedure, which is up for FDA approval this year, Romo said he would recommend it to others. “The more we tell people about this procedure the more people they can save,” Felicita added. Romo said he purposely waited a year before publicly discussing the surgery that saved his life because he wanted to make sure it worked. The surgery not only saved his life, but gave him back the energy to do the things he enjoys. things like remodeling houses and bowling with his grandchildren. recently, Romo started doing interviews, television commercials and testimonials about the success of the MitraClip procedure and how it has changed his life. “If you’re tired and weak all the time, don’t think that it comes with being 70-something,” he said. “Don’t be afraid if you’re in the same position I was in, and have no other options.” The Romos said they were touched by the warmth shown to them by the staff at Baylor’s Jack and Jane Hamilton Heart and Vascular Center. Today, Romo remains humble and thankful to so many, including his grandson. “I’m blessed because Tony was there that night and noticed I was sick. he took action,” Romo said. “I appreciate him very much. “I still ask God, ‘Who am I to deserve so much?” ——– Angie Alvarado may be reached by e-mail at editor@palestineherald.com. The Palestine Herald Press is a sister publication of the Daily Sun. want to “Soundoff” on this story? E-mail: soundoff@corsicanadailysun.com About MR Mitral valve regurgitation, also known as mitral regurgitation, is a condition in which the heart’s mitral valve leaflets do not seal properly. This valvular defect allows blood to flow backward in the heart and is referred to as a “leaking heart valve.” Often, mitral regurgitation is mild and develops slowly over time. because those who suffer from MR have no symptoms, many are completely unaware that they have this condition. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, “when signs and symptoms of mitral valve regurgitation develop, they do so gradually because the heart is able to compensate for the valve defect.” Many times MR is detected when a doctor hears a heart murmur with a stethoscope. sometimes, however, the disorder develops quickly, and sufferers may experience an abrupt onset of more severe symptoms. Indicators of mitral valve regurgitation include: • Shortness of breath, especially with exertion or when you lie down • Fatigue, especially during times of increased activity • Cough, especially at night or when lying down • Heart palpitations — sensations of a rapid, fluttering heartbeat • Swollen feet or ankles • Heart murmur • Excessive urination