Tony: from a school trek to lifesaving heart valve surgery

A trek that led to a diagnosis 

When Tony signed up to trek the Kokoda Track with his teenage son, he didn’t expect it to lead to open-heart surgery. Fit and active, he went in for a routine medical clearance – only to discover a heart murmur that had gone undetected for decades. 

“My doctor told me I had a heart murmur. I was shocked – it hadn’t been picked up in 30 years.” 

Though cleared for the trip, Tony was told to stop umpiring football due to the risk of sudden collapse. Months later, his condition worsened, and he underwent urgent surgery to receive an artificial aortic valve. That check-up, he says, likely saved his life. 

Why early detection and innovation matter 

Managing his condition with daily medication, Tony knows many people in Australia may not receive the kind of warning he did. He’s a vocal advocate for Medicare-subsidised Heart Health Checks – and a supporter of the Heart Foundation Catalyst Partner’s bio-inspired 3D-printed heart valves project. 

The Corametix team is developing a new kind of heart valve that is 3D-printed to work just like a natural one and is designed to last a lifetime. It’s affordable, safe, and can be implanted using less invasive surgery. This device could help millions of people live longer, healthier lives. 

A better valve for the next generation 

Tony’s journey highlights how far heart care has come – and how far it still has to go. 

“I was lucky,” he reflects. “My heart valve replacement has given me a new lease on life and I’m truly thankful. But the current treatment means I take warfarin every day, though the valve is permanent. I’m fortunate to be one of those people who won’t need a valve replacement. How life-changing it would be to have a new heart valve fitted that mimics the natural way a healthy human heart valve works, without the need for potent medications for the rest of my life!” 

Corametix’s next-generation 3D-printed heart valves is reshaping what’s possible and offers a scalable solution for millions with valve disease. 

Join us in transforming heart valve treatment. Fund the future of heart valve technology - inspired by nature, engineered for life. Learn more about our Catalyst Partner.