Things do happen for a reason...

This weekend my Aunt Carla called to see how we were doing. I expressed my frustration that things were moving SLOWLY and that I felt like a gerbil in a cage --spinning my wheel as fast as I could yet getting nowhere. I also expressed how I felt Joel was just a “number” to many people and likened our experience, thus far, to being in a herd of cattle.

Carla offered me some reassurance in saying all things happened for a reason and that God had us in the palm of his hand and we needed to trust in Him. Yes, I know this but I did need a reminder. Thank you, Aunt Carla. I felt so much better after our call.

Within 2 minutes of hanging up with her, I had received an email from my lifelong friend’s (Derek Fraley) fiancé, Melissa Shyrock. Melissa had read Joel’s blog and emailed me to see how we were doing. While I knew Melissa was in the medical field – I wasn’t sure to what capacity.

Through our exchange of emails, I found out that Melissa is a Physician Assistant of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Northwestern Medical Faculty Foundation in Chicago and she works for Dr. Patrick McCarthy.

After a few emails back and forth, Melissa and I had a long phone conversation about our situation. She immediately offered to help in anyway that she could.

Dr. McCarthy is specialist for Joel’s particular heart condition. Prior to accepting a position at Northwestern, Dr, McCarthy practiced at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation from 1990 until March 2004 with Dr. Lytle. Dr. Lytle is the doctor at Cleveland Clinic that Joel was referred to.

Honestly, I couldn’t believe I couldn’t my ears (or rather cochlear implants :)).

Melissa offered to get Joel’s records read by Dr. McCarthy for another opinion and I quickly took her up on her offer.

Melissa called me first thing this morning to let me know that she had spoken to the doctor and he was awaiting our medical records and would review them as soon as they received them. Talk about customer service!!!

I am picking up all of Joel’s records at 2pm this afternoon and will be FEDEXing them to Northwestern today. They should have them by tomorrow morning. The doctor will then review them and make a determination on if he thinks he can help us and then schedule us for a consult and more testing.

Wow! Had Joel’s records not been delayed in getting to CC, we would have probably already had an appointment there. Of course, we are not ruling out any options and if CC is where we need to be then we will go there. On the other hand, I can say, without a doubt, I know Joel wouldn’t just be a number at Northwestern. Melissa has offered to be our medical advocate and assist on Joel’s case. Melissa, thank you from the bottom of my heart, words can’t express my gratitude.


For those of you asking what you can do to help? Please pray that Dr. McCarthy has the experience, expertise and knowledge to help Joel.


Once again, I am reminded that things do happen for a reason. And, yes, Aunt Carla, God does have us in the palm of his hand.

Love, Michelle

About Dr. McCarthy


Patrick M. McCarthy, MD
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Medical Education: Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine 1980
Residency: Mayo Clinic-Rochester
Fellowship: Mayo Clinic-Rochester 1988
Fellowship: Stanford University Hospital 1989
Board Certification: Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery)
Specialty: Cardiac Surgery
Clinical Interests: Valve Repair/Replacement, Mitral Valve Repair, Atrial Fibrillation Surgery, Maze Procedure, Aortic Aneurysm, Coronary Bypass Surgery, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy / Myectomy, Minimally Invasive Surgery

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Biographical Sketch | Publications

Practice Contact Information
Website: www.nmff.org

675 N. St. Clair, Galter 19-100
Chicago, IL 60611
P: (312)695-4965
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Biographical Sketch
Patrick M. McCarthy, MD has distinguished himself as both a clinician and researcher in the field of cardiac surgery. On April 1, 2004, Dr. McCarthy became professor of surgery at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine; co-director of the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute; and the chief of the division of cardiothoracic surgery at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. In recognition of his continued, outstanding achievements, Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine named Dr. McCarthy the Heller-Sacks Professor of Surgery on November 9, 2006.

Until March 11, 2004, Dr. McCarthy was the surgical director of the Kaufman Center for Heart Failure at the Cleveland Clinic. While there, he was the first occupant of the George M. and Linda H. Kaufman Endowed Chair.

Dr. McCarthy has achieved national and international recognition in the fields of complex adult cardiac surgery including, valves, cardiac transplantation, mechanical ventricular assist devices, coronary artery bypass, minimally invasive surgery, aneurysm repair and atrial fibrillation ablation. He has performed several thousand heart operations, averaging 400 per year. He has authored or co-authored more than 300 papers and 30 book chapters. He is on the editorial board of four medical journals and is a member and officer in numerous professional societies.

He was one of the youngest surgeons ever to be elected into the prestigious American Association of Thoracic Surgeons at the age of 38. He has given over 325 lectures, has been Visiting Professor 34 times and has lectured on six continents.

Dr. McCarthy developed the Edwards "MC3" three-dimensional annuloplasty system for the repair of tricuspid regurgitation. He also recently modified this three-dimensional design concept to develop a ring to repair the mitral valve called the "Carpentier-McCarthy-Adams IMR Et logix" ring. He has more patents pending and projects underway to facilitate other valve operations, minimally invasive heart operations, and catheter-based approaches to valve disease.

Dr. McCarthy is a graduate of Notre Dame and Loyola University, Stritch School of Medicine. He completed his general and cardiac surgery training at the Mayo Clinic and completed a special heart and lung transplantation fellowship at Stanford University Medical Center. He practiced at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation from 1990 until March 2004.