American Heart Month: West Fargo Man Grateful for Lifesaving Care and Second Chance at Essentia Health
Dan Gerriets. An avid outdoorsman, he is back to ice fishing.
A bicuspid — or two-part — aortic valve (BAV) affects about 1 to 2% of the population. This congenital heart condition often goes unnoticed until later in life, as was the case with Dan Gerriets, who wasn’t diagnosed until his 30s.
Those with BAV can also have an enlarged aorta, which, over time, can weaken. Gerriets’ enlarged aorta was first identified in 2019. While it wasn’t cause for concern then, it stayed on his mind.
“Imagine a water balloon. You fill it too much and it bursts,” explained Dr. Charles Canver, a cardiothoracic surgeon at Essentia Health-Fargo. “If an aneurysm ruptures, the mortality rate is 90%.”
The aorta is the largest artery that carries oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the rest of the body. Blood passes through the aortic valve, which normally has three leaflets. Instead of opening and closing to keep blood moving forward, Gerriets’ two-part valve allowed blood to leak backward — forcing his heart to work harder with every beat.
“I was feeling pretty good up until last year,” said the 48-year-old West Fargo resident. “I was suddenly tired all the time. I couldn’t make it up a flight of stairs without wanting to sit down.”
Gerriets’ primary care provider, Marlena McKee, an advanced practice registered nurse and certified nurse practitioner at the Essentia Health-West Fargo Clinic, encouraged him to get a computed tomography (CT) scan to check in on his heart.
“Being as stubborn as I am, I scheduled it for the last day of December thinking I’ll be good,” he admitted. “But then my youngest son, Isaiah, needed his own surgery and told me, ‘If I have to go in first because you’re stubborn, you have to go in earlier.’ ”
Gerriets agreed to reschedule ????????— a decision that ultimately saved his life. The CT scan confirmed his aneurysm had not only increased in size but was leaking.
“Because of his genetic condition, Dan’s heart was working at about 60%,” explained Dr. Canver. “His aneurysm was close to rupture, and we had no time to wait.”
On Nov. 12, 2025, Dr. Canver replaced Gerriets’ aortic root and valve and sealed the aneurysm using a composite graft fitted with a mechanical valve. Following surgery, doctors told his wife, Patty, he likely wouldn’t have survived until December.
“Knowing this changes your outlook on life,” said Gerriets. “I owe my youngest a lot because he’s the one who made me go in.”
He feels a “billion times better” since the surgery and continues to complete cardiac rehab three times a week. Grateful for the care he received at Essentia, Gerriets encourages other men to prioritize their heart health.
“They gave me a second life, and it feels fantastic,” said Gerriets. “You’ve got a lot of folks who care about you, and you’ve only got one life. Live it the best you can.”
Caring for your heart
February is American Heart Month and is a great time to review your heart health, schedule recommended screenings and consider lifestyle changes to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease.
To learn more about your heart health and potential risk, take our online assessment at EssentiaHealth.org/MyHeart. It only takes a few minutes and is free.
Heart screenings are also available at Essentia Health–32nd Avenue Clinic in Fargo. Call (701) 364-BEAT or visit EssentiaHealth.org for more information.
Essentia Health-Fargo has been reaccredited as North Dakota’s only Chest Pain Center with Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) and Resuscitation through the American College of Cardiology (ACC). This is the ACC’s highest level of accreditation for chest pain centers.