Ever Since Chris Larson was 16, he has known his future was uncertain.

COURTESY GINNY LARSON

Chris Larson (left), 30, has congenital heart disease, and he is in desperate need open-heart surgery. His mother, Ginny (right) is holding a benefit to raise money for the surgery.

A congenital heart disease diagnosis at age 11 led to his first open heart surgery at age 16, and the condition is now forcing doctors to perform another extensive operation on the 30-year-old.

“That’s a heavy weight to carry around your entire life,” said Chris’ mother, Ginny Larson. “It makes a person reluctant to think about marriage, children and the future because you just don’t know.”

That’s why Ginny Larson, 65, of Vermilion and formerly of Elyria, is helping her son take on the disease — the same one that that killed actor John Ritter.

Larson knew this day was coming more than 14 years ago when Chris had his first complex open-heart surgery after doctors diagnosed him with bicuspid aortic valve disease.

Larson said her son was born with an abnormal two-cusp aortic valve, which was causing a huge strain on his heart and putting too much pressure on his aorta.

Chris’ first surgery was performed by doctors at the Cleveland Clinic. At that time, doctors surgically created the missing third cusp of Chris’ abnormal aortic heart valve. It afforded Chris the chance to live his life as a normal teen. He graduated from Elyria High School and later, Lorain County Community College.

But doctors knew the first surgery was a temporary fix — a more extensive surgery would be needed in the future.

Larson said doctors at the Cleveland Clinic told Chris in July that he wouldn’t live longer than a year without another surgery.

The disease has caused an aneurysm on Chris’ aorta, and he will need to have the entire ascending aorta, aortic root and aortic valve replaced in a surgery that will cost more than $200,000.

It’s not your traditional type of open-heart surgery, Larson said.

To make matters worse, Chris, a career carpenter, has no insurance to cover the surgery. Once he became too old to be covered on his parents’ insurance, he was unable to secure health insurance of his own because of his pre-existing condition, Larson said.

“We don’t know how much he is eligible for,” Larson said. “You just don’t know what is going to happen if he gets into real trouble. It’s an overwhelming amount of money to come up with.”

Without surgery, Chris’ aorta could rupture without warning, causing instant death.
With the help of friends and other family, Larson is holding a benefit Feb. 10 to help raise money for the surgery. The benefit includes dinner and a raffle for special prizes.

“He looks as healthy as an ox. You would never guess. That’s why it’s called the silent killer,” Larson said. “That’s why I’m doing this. I not only want to raise money for my son. But I want to raise awareness about this disease. There are so many people who have died needlessly because they don’t know they have this disease. There is no cure for this; it’s a lifelong journey.”

Contact Lisa Roberson at 329-7121 or lroberson@chroniclet.com

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