Victor’s victory: Heartfelt thanks for a future with family
As tears fill Rosa Jamero’s eyes, she realizes how much she almost lost; grateful her husband Victor survived a rare heart condition that could have killed him.
"I am so thankful, so thankful," said an emotional Rosa.
Rosa and Victor’s struggle begins more than a decade ago in their Philippines homeland.
The couple, with two young children, noticed Victor was frequently breathless.
"I would walk from my parking lot to my apartment and I’m resting six times because of shortness of breath," said Victor.
A nurse would discover Victor had a heart problem.
"She said I had irregular beating and an enlarged heart," he said.
Victor would leave his job to stay home to care for his children. Rosa would work abroad as a nanny and send money home to support the family.
"You have to stand firm that you are now a bread winner for them," said Rosa.
Eventually, Rosa began living and working in Ottawa. The family employing and befriending her would help bring Victor and the children to live in the capital; the Jameros reuniting after eleven long years.
"When I left, my second child is only one year old. When we finally united here in Canada, she was 12. It’s very hard," said Rosa.
The hardships were far from over. Once settled in Ottawa, Victor would see doctors about his heart issue. His condition was much more serious than initially diagnosed.
Victor Jamero at home following his life-saving mitral valve surgery at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. (Photo courtesy the Jamero family)
"They found I had a blood clot. A big blood clot," he said.
"It was a massive clot," said Dr. Thierry Mesana, President and CEO of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute.
"It was huge. Like the size of an apple," Mesana said.
"And it was hiding in his heart," said Rosa.
Doctors discovered Victor was living with a rare and deadly heart condition. Many were amazed that he survived the 18-hour flight from the Philippines to Ottawa.
“I have to say, I think he was extremely lucky to come here alive," Mesana said.
"When I heard that, I’m like 'wow,'" said Rosa.
"I can’t believe that you’re still here. It’s a miracle," she said.
Victor’s condition was rheumatic mitral stenosis. It was likely caused by an untreated case of rheumatic fever when Victor was young. Ongoing inflammation resulted in serious complications and damage.
"The valve has healed in a very fibrotic process due to the inflammation and doesn’t work well," said Dr. Mesana.
Fortunately, for Victor, and thousands of other patients, Dr. Mesana is world-renowned for his experience in repairing damaged mitral valves.
He removed Victor’s clot and repaired the valve, giving Victor and his family a future together.
"I really believe that the valve repair is one of the operations that can actually fix the heart forever," said Mesana.
For the Ottawa Heart Institute’s gift of life, Rosa and Victor Jamero are forever grateful.
"Here it is. A second chance. The second life that we are praying for," said Rosa.
"There are so many lives that they save. And so many lives that they change," said Victor.
Victor and Rosa(middle) with their two children, son-in-law, and two grandchildren. (Joel Haslam/CTV News Ottawa)
Dr. Mesana believes groundbreaking research is key to the UOHI’s success in treating patients. Victor’s exceptional case provided an invaluable learning opportunity for medical students studying under Dr. Mesana.
"The research of today is the treatment of tomorrow," he said.
This March marks the 10th anniversary of Victor’s life-saving surgery at the UOHI.
"It’s a big year," he said with a smile.
And Dr. Mesana believes Victor will have many more years to celebrate.
“I think Victor will live longer than me,” he laughed.
February is Heart Month. To support the UOHI, please give at februaryisheartmonth.ca.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
OPP responds to apparent video of officer supporting anti-Trudeau government protestors
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says it's investigating an interaction between a uniformed officer and anti-Trudeau government protestors after a video circulated on social media.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Loud boom in Hamilton caused by propane tank, police say
A loud explosion was heard across Hamilton on Friday after a propane tank was accidentally destroyed and detonated at a local scrap metal yard, police say.