A Heart For Swimming: Merrillville Community School Corporation Superintendent Nick Brown’s Heart Surgery Story

While coughs are common and can be seen as normal with a common cold, a cough lasting for long periods can be concerning to anyone’s overall health.

In the case of Nick Brown, he had a cough for years and didn’t think much of it. Still, an unusual experience with his stamina during exercise and a doctor visit proved that his constant cough was “more than meets the eye.”

Brown Assumed His Cough And Stamina Were Just Apart Of The Normal Aging Process

Brown swam at Franciscan Fitness Center in Chesterton twice a week before his life-saving visit to the doctor. Brown assumed that his constant cough for years was just a part of the normal aging process, also relating to his trouble finishing just four laps in the Franciscan Fitness Center pool.

While Brown did seek medical help previously, a doctor told him that he may have pneumonia as he started having problems breathing prior to the start of the 2021 school year.

“One night, I couldn’t get comfortable,” Brown said. “I was in the recliner and my wife said, ‘We need to go to the emergency room.’”

The Browns live in Chesterton but chose to go to Franciscan Health Crown Point. There, the Browns met with heart surgeon J. Michael Tuchek, DO, FACS, who later told them that his heart condition was causing the symptoms.

Solving The Bicuspid Valve Concerns In Brown’s Heart

Dr. Tuchek explained that Brown’s heart had a bicuspid valve with two leaflets instead of a tricuspid valve with three leaflets. Bicuspid valves affect one percent of people as the condition is related to abnormalities at birth.

“It’s like two guys trying to keep up with three,” Dr. Tuchek said. “They get burned out and fail more quickly.”

When the heart valve has trouble opening or closing, it can cause conditions such as:

• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Lightheadedness
• Fainting

This heart condition can cause blood flow complications, leading to some of these symptoms that Brown recognized as he was trying to function in his daily life.

Before Dr. Tuchek’s diagnosis, he briefly mentioned the Merrillville High School T-shirt Mrs. Brown was wearing. Dr. Tuchek is a Merrillville High School Alumni, after all.

“My wife said, ‘Let me introduce you to the Merrillville superintendent,’ and motioned to me,” Brown said.

After an introduction with the Browns, Dr. Tuchek explained that the heart surgery had to take place immediately. With this news, Brown showed concern about his heart health, the upcoming surgery and several major events he could miss during the process.

“My daughter was getting married in December,” Brown said. “I was frightened, terrified.”

Dr. Tuchek replaced the heart valve and Brown felt better almost immediately after surgery. Franciscan Health Crown Point uses the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) program, a set of protocols that begin before surgery with the goal of optimal patient outcomes.

With the efforts of Brown and the guidance of medical staff through the ERAS program pre-procedure, the heart surgery was performed with great results.

“He was home in a few days and driving within a week,” Dr. Tuchek said.

From Heart Surgery To His Daughter’s Wedding And Beyond

Brown quickly recognized that his surgery was a life-changing experience.

“I had my daughter’s wonderful wedding, and my wife and I went to Hawaii two weeks afterward,” Brown said. “I was able to snorkel and walk up a volcano. She was behind me telling me I had to slow down. Without the surgery, I wouldn’t have been able to do it, if I would have been here at all.”

After Brown returned from his vacation confident in his health, he returned to working out at the Franciscan Health Fitness Center.

“The first time I went back, I swam 10 laps nonstop,” Brown said.

Brown was surprised and grateful that he almost effortlessly did several laps without breathing complications or even soreness in his legs. Since his surgery and recovery, Brown has completed up to 110 laps at one time.

“I can’t say enough how amazing and life changing this surgery is,” Brown said. “My memory is better. My life is better. The constant cough I had before is gone.”

With confidence in his new health after surgery and the eagerness to tell his story, Brown attended the Indiana Heart Association, an annual fundraising walk. Members of the school’s National Honor Society volunteered to do the setup and the Merrillville High School band volunteered to play at the end of the event.

Brown was grateful to be able to give back to his community alongside his students, thanks to the help of a Merrillville High School graduate-turned heart surgeon, Dr. Tuchek.

“I have the best job in the world,” Brown said. “This surgery allows me to continue with that. I get choked up just thinking about it.”