Personal Stories

David Pressler Paints a Three-Dimensional Picture of the Human Heart

David Pressler gives spectators a look at his artwork, HEARTIFACTS™.

David Pressler, a resident of Fairfield, Connecticut, refuses to take his heart for granted. "The heart, as I learned from my personal experience, is a muscle that needs to be exercised and oxygenated on a regular basis. We go through life never thinking about our heart until we have a problem—then often it's too late. Some of us, like myself, are very fortunate to get a second chance," says Mr. Pressler.

An artist, photographer, designer, and marketing communications consultant, Mr. Pressler was diagnosed with mitral valve regurgitation in January 2003. Mitral valve regurgitation is a common and potentially serious heart condition that can lead to arrhythmias or congestive heart failure. The mitral valve is a one-way valve that connects the left atrium and the left ventricle of the heart. With mitral valve regurgitation, the valve does not seal completely and blood leaks back into the left atrium. This reverse flow (regurgitation) can cause the heart to enlarge and the lungs to fill with fluid. Signs and symptoms may include an audible heart murmur, shortness of breath, and heart palpitations.

HEARTIFACTS™ by David Pressler

"At the time, the news came as a total surprise because I've never had any heart problems or heart disease, high cholesterol or blood pressure problems. Nobody could tell me why it happened, except that it was a genetic weakness that would have happened sooner or later. I was told that surgery had to be performed within a year's time and that there was enormous strain on my heart muscle. The pressure was like I was jogging all the time," explains Mr. Pressler. "My cardiologist, Dr. Edwin Hankin, told me the operation would be invasive and would involve a sternotomy, an incision in the center of the chest to access the heart. Dr. Hankin wanted to try medical therapy first, but I had a 30-year history of severe hypersensitivity to pharmaceuticals, which made my case extremely challenging. In addition to medications, my body couldn't tolerate many chemicals, environmental allergens, and a spectrum of foods. When the medical therapy didn't react well with my system, Dr. Hankin referred me to Dr. Oz at Columbia. He believed Dr. Oz's personal sensitivity and open-minded approach to using complementary therapies would make him a good match for me. In addition, he stressed that Dr. Oz was a pioneer in minimally invasive surgery."

Mehmet C. Oz, MD, Professor of Surgery at Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, thought Mr. Pressler was an excellent candidate for a minimally invasive alternative to a sternotomy called the portal access procedure. "This procedure could provide Mr. Pressler with the best hope to repair his mitral valve's mechanical failure, while ensuring the least possible stress to his body, reducing the risk of complications, and shortening the recovery period," explains Dr. Oz.

"Dr. Oz was extraordinarily friendly, very approachable and communicative. Because I'm an industrial designer and a visual person, I wanted to visually understand what was going on with my valve. Dr. Oz ran a diagnostic tape that I had brought with me from the Bridgeport Hospital in Connecticut. He explained exactly the structure of my valve and the specifics of my condition. Apparently, blood was backing up thru my valve into my lungs, which explained my growing fatigue," says Mr. Pressler.

Mehmet C. Oz, MD, FACS

Mr. Pressler's next major concern before surgery dealt with how he would react to anesthesia in light of his body's chemical hypersensitivity. "I worked closely with Dr. Mark Heath, an anesthesiologist at Columbia, and I couldn't have been more pleased. Dr. Heath communicated with my allergist and came up with a list of possible medications that might be drawn upon for use in my case. He determined which substances would offer the least risk based on my sensitivities and assured me that no personnel would enter my ICU room while wearing any aromatics such as perfume, scented clothes, or hair spray. I felt both Dr. Oz and Dr. Heath approached my case with the utmost care and compassion."

On September 5, 2003, Dr. Oz and his colleague Michael Argenziano, MD, Assistant Professor of Surgery at Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons and Director of Robotic Cardiac Surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center, performed the procedure. Following the operation, Dr. Oz met with Mr. Pressler in follow-up until he deemed the surgery a success. Today, Mr. Pressler's mitral valve and his heart are functioning normally again.

HEARTIFACTS™ by David Pressler

Beyond the physical repair, Mr. Pressler believes his experience has fueled tremendous emotional growth and self-awareness. It has also fueled his artwork. "When I was first diagnosed in January 2003, the news gave me a real jolt. I started to do a lot of introspection. I entered into a group art exhibition in February, a show entitled From the Heart, which was launching around Valentine's Day. Because I was contemplating my own heart-health at the time, I began working with valentine-type hearts, which symbolize love and compassion—with the anatomical aspects of the human heart showing blood flow, cross sections of the valve, and the chambers," explains Mr. Pressler. "I started working graphically with my computer, layering meaning upon meaning and image upon image. Then I got the idea that I could make a three-dimensional image. I wanted to create an image that was visible by itself, but if you put on 3-D glasses you would be able to get a three-dimensional feeling of the heart, something showing the translucency and depth that you wouldn't get with the naked eye. This is the way I had grown to view my heart, as a muscle with layers and depth, something that could not be simplified. I was able to take this new idea to a level where I produced nine different works, which I called HEARTIFACTS™. They're essentially a metaphor for one's own heart-health," explains Mr. Pressler.

As for Mr. Pressler's heart-health, he sees his heart in a three-dimensional light every single day now—and every day is a precious one. "Today, I feel better than I have felt in years. I'm on an exercise regimen; I joined a gym and work out several times a week. I wear a heart monitor and watch my beats per minute and get them up to a healthy level. I eat mainly a vegetarian diet with some fish and chicken. I've also increased my liquid intake. Before surgery, I was probably walking around dehydrated half the time and I didn't even realize it. I'm educated now. I'm aware that you can't just sit at a computer all day or in front of a TV and expect your heart to always be functioning right. You have to work at it and nurture it."