Saving Lives Part 2: Heart Doctor, Elderly Patient

Patient Is 102 Years Old

In part two of a special report – “Saving Lives” – FOX 21’s Dan Hanger introduces you to a one-of-a-kind heart doctor in Duluth that recently took a chance on a 102-year-old man.

Sometimes, you just have to have a little fun – no matter your age.

For Duluth native Millard LaJoy, he’s always been about fun and a solid sense of humor.

“You know, I am old. I’m 62 years old … 102,” Millard jokingly laughed.

You heard it right, Millard is 102 years old and turning 103 Feb. 7.

“I’m feeling great. I may be a little of a fib there, but I’m feeling greater than expected, Millard said.

He is better than expected because he thought he was about to die just months ago.

“Oh, yeah, I knew there was something wrong because I was going downhill and getting my breath — it was going down pretty fast.”

And while you could assume most 102-year-olds would just think it’s time to hang it up, Millard put up a fight.

“I had a long talk with the doctor – Dr. Schultz. He’s a 38-year-old surgeon. Well, he’s not a surgeon, he installs heart valves,” Millard explained.

And again, you heard him right. Millard wanted his rusty, aging aortic valve replaced.

“I look through my schedule every morning to see who is there and it said 102-year-old male, and I really thought it was a joke,” said Dr. Jason C. Schultz, the director of the Health Heart and Vascular Center at Essential Health St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth.

“I tell people that essentially means I’m a plumber of really small pipes,” Schultz explained in basic terms about what he does for a living.

Schultz is also the only doctor in the region who can perform this type of work.

“The procedure is called trans catheter aortic valve replacement, which essentially means you’re replacing the aortic valve by catheter means instead of opening up the chest and taking the old valve out,” Schultz explained.

It’s an alternative heart procedure for elderly patients who could never have open heart surgery.

“This is a new technology where we just use balloons and catheters to deliver an aortic valve without having to stop the heart, without having to open their chest,” Schultz said.

But doing this procedure on a person as old as Millard had never been done before at Essentia.

“You know, 102, that’s not a laughing matter. That’s a lot of years to be on this earth. And he knew that and he said, listen, I know I am old, but if I have to go on like this, it’s not worth it to me, so what can we do,” Schultz explained about his conversation with Millard before decided to go forward with the procedure.

So after extensive testing and preparation, Dr. Schultz performed the one-of-a-kind procedure – which ended with results that were better than expected.

“He is very proud to be the oldest that we’ve ever done. He’ll be the first to tell you. And he did great actually. He did really great,” Schultz said.

“He’s got his reputation. I got my life. We won! Who is going to win the Super Bowl,” Millard joked.

Meanwhile, as Millard settles in his new assisted-living facility with his freshly pumping heart, he’s also got some advice on living the longest life possible.

“Have a good sense of humor.”

And never hold a grudge.

“Don’t let it hurt you … so what! That’s the attitude you got to have.