Aaron Boone Returns to Baseball Just Months After Heart Surgery
During the run-up to the procedure the 36-year-old focused solely on his health, but the moment he was out of danger Boone's thoughts returned to the sport he loves.
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January 8, 2010Slugger Aaron Boone comes from a family with a tradition of playing professional baseball - his father, brother and grandfather have all played in the major leagues - but his career was almost derailed by bicuspid aortic valve, a congenital heart defect that eventually necessitated open-heart surgery. During the run-up to the procedure the 36-year-old focused solely on his health, but the moment he was out of danger Boone's thoughts returned to the sport he loves, and in which he had thrived, and he put all his energy into recovery and rehabilitation."I could see my body respond each day, each week, each month," he recalls in this month's episode of Sharing Miracles, a TV program that tells the compelling and inspirational stories of real patients.
The athlete adds that "seeing myself improve really helped push me further and helped me do the necessary things to keep getting better." As a result, Boone was back on the field just seven months after the surgery, playing first base for the Houston Astros in a game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field last November. According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, congenital heart defects are the most common type of birth defect and they affect more than 35,000 babies in the U.S. each year. The National Institutes of Health say most cases have no known cause but using certain medications, such as retinoids, drinking alcohol as well as exposure to chemicals and infections during pregnancy may contribute to some congenital heart problems.Families affected by this adversity may consult the resources of Little Hearts, a nonprofit organization that also accepts donations.
The athlete adds that "seeing myself improve really helped push me further and helped me do the necessary things to keep getting better." As a result, Boone was back on the field just seven months after the surgery, playing first base for the Houston Astros in a game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field last November. According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, congenital heart defects are the most common type of birth defect and they affect more than 35,000 babies in the U.S. each year. The National Institutes of Health say most cases have no known cause but using certain medications, such as retinoids, drinking alcohol as well as exposure to chemicals and infections during pregnancy may contribute to some congenital heart problems.Families affected by this adversity may consult the resources of Little Hearts, a nonprofit organization that also accepts donations.
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