CASPER, Wyo. (March 13, 2026) – In January 2025, 62-year-old Casper resident James Short experienced an unusual sensation in his chest while standing at his desk at home.
"It was a weird sensation in my chest, it's hard to explain," he said.
What followed was a series of tests that revealed a supraventricular arrhythmia causing his heartbeat to be irregular, as well as a previously undiagnosed bicuspid aortic valve – a hereditary condition where the heart has two valve leaflets instead of three.
An avid hiker and fisherman, Short had noticed in recent years that he needed more rest when hiking the bridle trail on Casper Mountain. He attributed his fatigue to lingering COVID-19 effects and even obtained an inhaler, which provided some relief.
"I never thought there could be something wrong with my heart," he said.
Doctors diagnosed Short with aortic stenosis, a condition where the narrowed valve prevents adequate blood flow through the body. Interestingly, physicians had detected a heart murmur since Short was 8 years old, but he never understood its significance, and his heart had never given him trouble – until now.
After extensive research and even considering out-of-state options, Short learned he was not eligible for a minimally invasive transcatheter aortic valve replacement procedure and would need traditional open-heart surgery. He chose to stay close to home, placing his trust in Joseph Monfre, MD, a cardiothoracic surgeon at Banner Wyoming Medical Center.
In December, Dr. Monfre performed the aortic valve replacement surgery.
He said Short's valve was "one of the worst valves he had ever seen," underscoring the critical nature of the intervention.
"Once you have this problem, it really affects your long-term survival," said Dr. Monfre.
He encourages patients if something feels off, get checked out.
"Get an echocardiogram," Dr. Monfre said. "Hopefully you don't have to come see us, but we're here if you do."
Short spent just three days in the hospital following the procedure.
"I had no fear, no anxiety. I was treated so well," he said. "If I could give everyone 11 stars, I would."
Jenny Swanson, a cardiac surgery physician's assistant, was in Short's surgery and has been with him through his follow-up care.
"It's really cool to see how active he's been able to be after surgery," she said.
The results have been transformative. Short and his wife now walk three to five miles per day, and he's already noticed a remarkable change in his stamina.
"My wife has to ask me to slow down now," he said.
Wednesday was Short's last day of cardiac rehab and he's ready to get back to regular life.
While Short admits he delayed the surgery due to a busy travel schedule – with his wife ultimately pushing him to prioritize his health – he's now eagerly anticipating upcoming trips, including a journey to Greece and Italy this spring. He's also looking forward to returning to one of his favorite pastimes: fishing.
"The weather has been so nice, I'm ready to get out there," he said.
From the clinic staff to the hospital team to cardiac rehabilitation specialists, Short praised every aspect of his care at Banner Wyoming Medical Center.
"I just really can't say enough about the great care that we can get right here in Wyoming," he said. “I would never see a reason to leave Casper to have this done.”
About Banner Wyoming Medical Center
Banner Wyoming Medical Center in Casper, Wyo., is part of Banner Health and is Wyoming's largest hospital with 249 beds on two campuses. It is one of Wyoming's most comprehensive hospitals and offers a range of inpatient and outpatients services including emergency services, Level II trauma care, heart care, women and infant services, neurological care and more. It is Casper's only full-service, non-profit hospital. Banner Health is one of the largest, secular nonprofit health care systems in the country. Headquartered in Arizona, Banner Health has locations in California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada and Wyoming. For more information, visit bannerhealth.com/wymc.
Captions:
James-Short1: James Short (center) poses for a photo with Jenny Swanson, PA-C, and Joseph Monfre, MD, on his last day of cardiac rehab on Wednesday at Banner Wyoming Medical Center. Swanson and Monfre were part of the heart team that performed Short's heart valve replacement surgery in December 2025.
James-Short2: James Short is an avid fisherman and is looking forward to returning to one of his favorite pastimes – casting his line in Wyoming's waters – following his full recovery from heart valve replacement surgery.
James-Short3: James Short is an active walker and hiker who now walks three to five miles daily with his wife following his heart valve replacement surgery at Banner Wyoming Medical Center.
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