Born with a Broken Heart: Kevin Hornaday's Open Heart Surgery Story
February 18, 2025
Kevin Hornaday knows a lot about matters of the heart — since he's dealt with them all his life. His heart worked overtime even within his mother's womb, resulting in a diagnosis of a cardiac electrical issue at birth. Years later, at the young age of 12, his heart broke in a different way when he was suddenly bereaved of his 44-year-old mother — a loss that doctors attribute to a suspected aneurysm.
Kevin's commitment to his health was shaped by his own lifelong heart condition and witnessing his mother's struggles with a chronic condition. He diligently managed his fitness while respecting the limitations set by his childhood pediatrician — who advised against strenuous activity. This also included consistently attending cardiology appointments, necessary for monitoring his Type 2 Mobitz electrical blockage.
Still, as a young man, he chose a career in law enforcement and dealt with stress due to the nature of his work.
Work Stress and a Need for a Change of Pace
By 2017, the unrelenting stress of the job impacted his heart condition, and he required a pacemaker for a congenital heart block. Because he was then pacing in the right ventricle 100 percent of the time, his ejection fraction had fallen from normal to 25 percent.
Soon thereafter, he transitioned into the care of WakeMed cardiologist Marc Silver, MD, FACC.
"After I met Dr. Silver, I immediately felt a level of trust in him that I don't readily experience given my line of work. Yet, he is on a short list of people I completely trust. He navigated me through the fears of COVID-19 and would often reach out to see how I was doing. If he suggested I do something, I did it without question."
Dr. Silver became his standard cardiologist for ongoing care. He noted that Kevin was not in good shape.
"When I saw him," Dr. Silver explains, "he was in heart failure, and I turned the pacemaker off. I did an echocardiogram early in 2019 and noted an aortic aneurysm that I was following periodically. His ejection fraction recovered to normal shortly thereafter with pacemaker turned off but his heart rate was slow."
In January 2024, Dr. Silver performed a full workup, including a magnetic resonance imaging scan and an electrocardiogram.
The Heart Takes a Detour
Dr. Silver explained that Kevin's aneurysm was located at the aortic root. The aneurysm's expansion had also stretched and damaged his aortic valve. Dr. Silver warned that without intervention, this damage could lead to severe respiratory issues, possibly requiring Kevin to be on oxygen therapy by age 60. This sobering prospect motivated Kevin to pursue surgical options, and Dr. Silver referred him to WakeMed cardiovascular surgeon, Judson Williams, MD, MHS.
"By 2024, his left ventricle started to enlarge and weaken," observes Dr. Silver, "and we also noted that his aneurysm had enlarged. Dr. Williams and I spoke and decided to upgrade the pacemaker to a biventricular pacemaker which improved things immensely and prepared him to undergo aortic aneurysm repair."
On February 14, Valentine's Day, Kevin made the decision with Dr. Williams' guidance to be good to his heart and move forward with an aortic valve replacement — sooner rather than later.
"My initial consult with Dr. Williams was incredible. His bedside manner is above any other physician I've ever met. He truly understands the gravity of the surgeries he performs on his patients. Before seeing him, I researched him — since he would potentially be opening up my heart. I learned that he is an expert in his field, teaching other doctors how to perform his surgeries. I believe that the best of the best are the ones who teach, and I quickly learned that Dr. Williams is absolutely the best of the best."
Kevin's surgery was scheduled for April 18.
Kevin reflects, "Dr. Williams was very thorough prior to surgery, showing me the computed tomography (CT) screening. He explained where my aorta was located and where it was bulging and why. He then explained what the surgery would involve. He also informed me that he saw a lot of these types of issues in people who'd had a career in the military, in law enforcement and public service. This made sense because my experience was that I'd go from 0 to 100 in seconds. I could think I was pulling someone over for a simple speeding ticket, only to find the suspect would run away on foot through the woods, leading me on a chase. My work was often a matter of life and death."
A Path Forged to a Revitalized Heart
On April 18 at the WakeMed Heart Center, Dr. Williams took Kevin into open heart surgery. This involved replacing the first part of his aorta and the valve.
“Both the aortic valve and the proximal aorta to the aortic arch were stretched thin," shares Dr. Williams, "causing both severe leakage of the valve and aneurysm of the aorta at risk for rupture, which we were concerned had taken his mother’s life at only 44 years old. For this reason, we made the plan to correct everything for him with a single operation. I'm glad to see 'the detective' doing well today.”
The surgery took about four hours, and Dr. Williams kept Kevin's girlfriend, pastor and boss aware of his progress as they waited for him in the critical care waiting room.
Kevin says of his experience going into surgery, "I was eager to get it done and get back to refereeing basketball. I'd been doing it for our church league for three years, and I was excited about having a healthy heart and getting back in the game."
His Mojo Returns with the Help of WakeMed Cardiac Rehab
Kevin had a successful surgery and joined WakeMed Cardiac Rehab from May through July at the behest of Dr. Williams.
"I did rehab three times a week. Each session was an hour and a half. It included nutrition with a spectacular dietitian. I would also cycle, strength train, use the treadmill and walk the track to build my stamina. As to therapists, they were all welcoming, easygoing and phenomenal with a holistic approach. I especially liked exercise specialist and program director, Bethany Yusiewicz, ACSM-CEP, CPT. My prior career in law enforcement was a paramilitary environment. She reminded me of a police academy instructor. She was gentle, but she was tough. She encouraged me to reach my potential, and eventually I was carrying kettle bells while I did laps around the indoor track. She helped me rebuild my confidence in my heart. Since I completed rehab, I now walk two miles, six days a week and love it."
Yusiewicz also has fond memories of Kevin as a dedicated, committed patient.
She says, "Kevin came to us in Cardiac Rehab hesitant to jump back into the activities he loved after surgery. His motivation for life, openness to change and acceptance of challenges were the keys to how well he did throughout Cardiac Rehab. He put faith over fear in the process. It was a privilege to watch him trust his exercise plan and see him thrive as a result."
Today, Kevin continues with his commitment to heart-healthy habits, following the guidance he received in Cardiac Rehab.
I work out regularly, and I can't wait to get back out on the basketball court," shares Kevin. "I also joined a couple of online support groups, and I have encouraged others undergoing open heart surgery to take the next step of rehab because it really makes a big difference."
About WakeMed Cardiac Rehab
WakeMed Cardiac Rehab offers a safe, monitored environment where you can gain the strength, confidence, camaraderie and nutritional know-how you need to live a heart-healthy life.
The WakeMed Cardiac Rehab specialists welcome patients who have or had:
- A recent heart attack
- Cardiac bypass surgery
- Angioplasty or stent placement
- Valve repair or replacement surgery
- A heart transplant
- Stable angina
- Heart failure
Patients with ventricular assist devices also benefit from our program.
About WakeMed Heart & Vascular
WakeMed Heart & Vascular physicians bring together expert cardiovascular, thoracic and vascular surgeons who are dedicated to delivering the highest level of cardiovascular care in Raleigh, Apex, Cary, Fuquay-Varina, Garner and Clayton, N.C. For decades, these physicians have chosen to bring their talent and expertise to WakeMed for its reputation for excellence in cardiovascular care and commitment to providing the most exceptional patient experience.