July 2025 Member Letter

July 15, 2025

Dear Brethren,

Several of you have contacted me asking about my health. I have received a few hundred emails, letters, cards, texts and phone calls expressing concern. My original plan was to answer each one, that is, until about a week ago, when I realized it was just too much. So, rather than my original plan, I have chosen to send a letter with the latest update on my health, along with some additional background. I have been writing member letters each month for the past 15 years, but this is the first time I’ve written about something as personal as my own health. I am very self-conscious even writing such a letter. I know of so many of you who are suffering severe trials, and then there was the horrendous flooding in Texas that took so many lives, many of them young children. With that context, I believe there are so many more important things to write about than my personal health. But after consideration, this seemed to be the best venue to address the questions that I have received over the past two weeks.

On June 27, a Friday afternoon, I was admitted to the Plano Heart Center in Plano, Texas. I was being admitted for what was described as a simple procedure, to replace my aortic valve. I say “simple,” because it was described to me as a nonsurgical procedure that would take approximately an hour. It was to be an outpatient procedure, and I would be home the next day and back at work on Monday morning.

The series of events that led to my hospitalization actually began back in 2012, when, during a routine physical examination, I was informed that I had a malformed aortic valve, one that was bicuspid in shape, with only two leaflets (or “cusps”) to control the blood flow out of the heart. The normal aortic valve has three leaflets. I was told that mine was quite unusual, affecting only 1 to 2 percent of the population. From that point on, approximately every two years I would see a cardiologist as part of my annual physical just to keep an eye on the valve. The primary concern was that with a smaller opening, I would be more susceptible to the formation of calcium, further blocking the already smaller opening.

I have followed that advice for the past 10+ years, and there had never been a concern until 2024. At that time the cardiologist determined that my aortic valve had narrowed considerably and should be replaced. Since I had no symptoms, I chose to wait an additional year. Earlier this year (2025), I was informed that my aortic valve had narrowed to the point that only 40 percent of the blood was actually getting through. I still had no symptoms, which amazed the doctor.

At that time, I agreed to having the valve replaced. I had two choices: (1) a nonsurgical procedure that took about an hour. This procedure is called the TAVR and is currently the most popular procedure for replacing an aortic valve. Literally thousands are being done each year at major heart centers around the country. You are awake during the entire process, and you are often released the same day and back to work the next day. (2) The second choice is the surgery route, called SAVR, which requires the opening of the chest and removal of the old valve and replacement with the new valve. Up until Friday, June 27, the plan was for me to have the nonsurgical procedure (TAVR), but that changed when the doctors had a chance to review all my tests. It was then determined that the surgical route was best for me. I won’t go into all the reasons, but needless to say, it was a surprise to my wife and me, but, after looking at all the evidence, we agreed that this was the best course of action for me.

On Tuesday, July 1, I was operated on at the Plano Heart Center. The old bicuspid valve, with the calcium deposits was removed, and a new valve was sewn in place. There was also a small aneurysm near the valve that was repaired. I had known of this aneurysm for several years, but it had never given me a problem, so I had chosen to leave it. As I wrote earlier, up until six weeks ago, I had no symptoms of anything being wrong.

I was discharged from the hospital on Sunday, July 6, and I am now home recovering. I was told that I should expect a full recovery to take two to three months. I have certain milestones that will come along the way—I can be driving again at 30 days, working part-time from home at 30 to 60 days and back to working in the office full-time after 60 days, if all is going well. I’ve been told not to travel for at least 30 days.

So far, my recovery has been remarkably good. I am ahead of every projection that I have been given, but I am still warned to be careful and not do too much. There can always be a setback. The long-term prognosis is for full recovery. I am constantly being told that I will be better than before, now that this birth defect has been repaired! I will simply have to wait and see if that turns out to be true. The timing for recovery places me at full recovery shortly before the Feast. So, at this point, I don’t intend to change any of our Feast plans. I did cancel the three international trips—to Europe, Mexico City and San Luis Potosi—and one domestic trip to St. Louis that I had planned for this summer. 

Sharing all this personal information is very new for me and, I must admit, makes me uncomfortable. My original plan, when I was told that I would be having the TAVR procedure, was to share the news with only a few individuals in the office. When that became open heart surgery, I realized that I needed to share with the ministry and the brethren.

It is also difficult for me to write about my personal health issues, while being aware of the personal trials that so many of you are going through. Add on to that the severe flooding and loss of life right here in Texas since July 4. It was heartbreaking to watch all this unfold over a few days. I was reminded that what I am experiencing cannot be compared to the hurt one feels when losing a child. I am sure we are all praying for those who suffered loss earlier this month.

While we live in an age when a birth defect, such as I’ve had, can be corrected, there is no cure in this lifetime for the loss of a child or another loved one. That said, let me encourage all of us to remember and be praying for our brethren in God’s Church who are going through health trials—continuing to ask God for His mercy and divine intervention.

In Hebrews 13:5 we read these words: “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.” These are words that should be encouraging to us all. Thank you for your prayers on my behalf.

Sincerely, your brother in Christ,

Jim Franks