Matthew Ghezzi and Dr Alexander Justicz
By Lineth Fernandez
A healthy and energetic man who exercised five to six times a week, Oakland Park resident and psychotherapist Matthew Ghezzi couldn’t understand why, in his mid-50s, he was losing vitality.
For more than a year, he experienced fatigue and edema, a type of fluid retention in his legs. Working with his clients and keeping his spirits up took all his energy. Other interests and relationships suffered.
At first, his symptoms were thought to be a result of hypothyroidism. Then a severe systolic heart murmur was identified at a primary care appointment, and eventually, he was diagnosed with aortic valve regurgitation.
“Aortic valve regurgitation occurs when the aortic valve doesn’t close properly,” said Alexander Justicz, M.D., a board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon with the Broward Health Physician Group. “This causes blood to leak backward into the left ventricle of the heart and means the heart must work harder. Matthew’s condition was advanced to the point that he needed surgery.”
“I never had a significant health problem before, so this diagnosis was a lot to take in,” said Matthew. “The last thing I wanted to hear was that I needed heart surgery.”
Matthew met with several surgeons before choosing Dr. Justicz.
“When I met Dr. Justicz, I was impressed by his experience, personality, confidence and personable approach,” said Matthew. “He really took his time explaining the surgery and gave me the detailed information I needed to make an informed decision. Then he recommended that I talk it over with my family and gave me his private number to call when I was ready to move forward.”
“I understand the range of emotions that patients face when they are told they need open heart surgery,” said Dr. Justicz. “It’s important that they understand both the risks and the benefits, and most of all that we have a talented and experienced team that will do everything we can to achieve a good outcome.”
Matthew and his surgeon discussed the lifetime management of his valve replacement. After carefully considering the options, which included a mechanical or tissue valve, Matthew decided he preferred to have a tissue valve to avoid the need to be on blood thinners.
Dr. Justicz performed open-heart surgery to replace Matthew’s valve at Broward Health Medical Center on November 6, 2025.
After his surgery, Matthew stayed in the hospital for five days.
“I felt supported and taken care of by Dr. Justicz and the entire team at Broward Health Medical Center,” said Matthew. “I tend to want to take care of others, but I had to let go and let the people at this hospital take care of me. That was a beautiful experience.”
After he was discharged, he was amazed at how quickly he started to feel better.
“It’s a miracle, honestly, that you’re able to get your health back and start to feel better within less than two weeks,” said Matthew.
Two months after his surgery, he still had some restrictions on his activities, but Mathew was already feeling more energetic and active.
“When people are faced with a major health crisis and are given renewed life, it changes everything,” said Matthew. “I have a lot of life left, and I feel very grateful. I am 100% confident that my life is not only going to return to normal; it’s going to be better.
“It’s a gift from Broward Health that I can continue doing what I love to do. My surgery renewed my life. I now have the energy to make changes in my life, to continue exercising and to enhance my relationships. It’s pretty magical.”
