Through the years of my incredible career, I have always been honest
with you, my audience. I’ve been honest about the great things that
have happened, and I’ve even been honest about the struggles and
challenges I have faced. While many people on the air are not honest
about their past, I’ve been honest about my divorces, my struggles with OCD, the guilt about being away from my son, and even about using drugs…and how Wolfman Jack stole my cocaine backstage at a Rolling Stones concert at The Dome. My honesty with you has always made it easy for me to just come on the air and be myself.
(Hear Scoot deliver the announcement above)
Well, right now, I want to be honest about something that has just come up in my life. I was born with a condition that has worsened to a critical point requiring immediate care.
Remember when The Stones cancelled Jazz Fest in 2019? The Stones
cancelled because Mick Jagger had to have heart surgery to have a valve
replaced. Yea, I have the Mick Jagger heart condition!
Because of that - I’m having heart surgery next Tuesday and because in my case they have to go in through the chest, I will be out and recovering for maybe 6 weeks. You know how hard it will be for me to be away from the show for that period of time, but I have to do this. I have to be better and live a long life so I can continue my career and so I can be there for my son and grandkids.
The good news is - I will be fine - this will have no impact on the natural
longevity of my life. Look how great Mick Jagger is doing! And that’s a great inspiration for me as I go through this procedure.
(Hear Scoot talk to WWL-TV reporter Meg Farris above)
Over 5 million Americans have heart valve disease every year, and
I am one of those Americans. Heart valve repair or replacement has hit
290,000 annually in America, and 27,000 people die from heart valve disease every year.
Another reason I am sharing this with you is that I want you to be aware of your heart condition that is more common than you think. Many people live their entire lives with a prolapsed heart valve and never have to have it treated with medicine or surgery. That wasn’t the case with Mick Jagger, and it’s not the case with me.
Over the past year, I have suffered from chronic fatigue. I have enough energy to do a great show, but that’s it. I have little energy for anything else. I also have been experiencing shortness of breath - those are symptoms of a heart valve problem.
I want to be an example of how you have to pay attention to your heart and if you have any symptoms - please go to the doctor and get your heart checked - even mention the possibility of a heart valve condition.
Nobody has to die from this - I am getting a failing heart valve repaired
or replaced. The doctor will figure out what to do when she gets in there. I hope it’s repaired, but if it needs to be replaced, it will be fine.
Every day I have been mad at myself for not doing more. I have goals
and more I want to do, but my heart-related fatigue has prevented me
from accomplishing all I want to accomplish.
The show will be in good hands. Ian and Dave Cohen will alternate guest hosting while I am recovering and there may even be a special guest host at times. But hang in there and know that I’ll be back as soon as I can.
My surgery is Tuesday and I’ll be here Monday to do the show.
I am looking forward to this surgery and getting this condition taken
care of, and I can’t wait to see how I feel afterwards. It’s going to be
great.
I’m a little scared. I’ve had several knee surgeries and ankle surgery when I was hit by the motorcycle, but this is the first internal organ surgery for me, and it’s my heart.
I’m going to tell the doctor that if she can fix my heart so it can’t be broken again - please do that while you’re in there.
I would love to have your thoughts and prayers, but know that I will be fine, and I will hate being away from the show, but I WILL be back, and I will be better than ever.