Page 8 - Hobe Sound Reflections - February '25

Page 8, Hobe Sound

cleveland clinic Martin health neWs

Heart Surgery Brings Quality hospital. Three months later he was back on the golf course.
Three days after his operation, he was discharged from the
Of Life For Older Patient “This was my goal all the way through,” Erickson
says. “It was a miracle to me.”
At 89 years old, Curtis Erickson says he still has a lot of Savage says a team approach is key to successful
living left to do. The avid golfer intends to keep enjoying outcomes in heart surgery. It is important to empower
the game with friends while also spending time with his patients by making recommendations and involving them
beloved family which includes five – soon to be seven – in the decision-making process.
great-grandchildren. “You have to be motivated to do this,” he says. “It’s
“Life couldn’t be any better,” Curtis says. not easy. I tell patients that it’s going to be hard, but you
It is exactly this outlook that Edward Savage, M.D., a can get through this, and you can’t give up. You have
cardiothoracic surgeon at Cleveland Clinic Martin North to devote energy to recovering. You have to eat, follow
Hospital, looks for in patients for whom he may recommend instructions and get out of bed.”
heart surgery. Savage was hesitant initially to recommend surgery since He adds that most of his patients are usually “on the
“Determinants for being a candidate for heart surgery are Erickson had reduced heart function and also had undergone road to complete recovery” within a few weeks.
functional and physical status, not necessarily chronological heart surgery 10 years prior to have a valve replaced. “It turned out just wonderful for me. I’m so glad
age,” Dr. Savage says. “But he was very motivated and functionally in good Cleveland Clinic is here,” Erickson says. After living
When Erickson was referred to Savage for coronary status,” Savage says. “For him, 89 wasn’t an age, either. in many different cities during his career in school
bypass surgery last year, he was in overall good health He had all these other things to do and was not ready to photography, he moved to the Stuart area in 1981. For
despite his age and had the will to get through the surgery throw in the towel. He wanted to feel better to do the things the past eight years he and his companion, Vicky, have
to feel better. he wanted to do.” been splitting their time between Florida and Michigan.
“His condition was an impediment to how he wanted his So, on April 5, 2023, Erickson underwent open-heart “I feel very blessed.”
life to be,” Savage says. “He was a motivated guy.” surgery at Cleveland Clinic Martin North Hospital. To make an appointment with Dr. Savage or another
Erickson had been dealing with shortness of breath, chest Though he was nervous, he said he was shocked at cardiovascular specialist at Cleveland Clinic in Florida,
pain, fatigue and significantly reduced heart function when “how calm and reassured I felt when I went down (to the call (877) 463-2010 or visit ClevelandClinicFlorida.org/
his cardiologist referred him to Savage. He had coronary operating room).” Heart to learn more.
artery disease and was not a candidate for stents. His only “Dr. Savage has a wonderful way about him,” Erickson
treatment option was open-heart bypass surgery. says. “He gives you so much confidence.”
Financial Focus ®

What Should You Know About from each one? If you are taking RMDs from a traditional transfer your RMDs to a qualified charity in what’s known
• If I have multiple accounts, do I have to take an RMD
as a qualified charitable distribution.
RMDS? IRA, you must calculate each RMD individually, but you • If I inherit an IRA or 401(k), am I subject to RMDs?
can take the total amount from one or more IRAs. If you’re Yes. When you take RMDs from an inherited account, you
By Sally Sima Stahl, taking RMDs from a 401(k) or similar plan, you must take generally must withdraw all the funds within 10 years, as
Edward Jones the RMD from each of your accounts. opposed to over your lifetime, which is the RMD window
You may spend many • How are RMDs taxed? You are typically taxed at your that applies to your own accounts. The rules are somewhat
decades contributing to income tax rate on the amount of the withdrawn RMD.
your IRA and 401(k), but You may be able to avoid taxes in a particular year if you Financial Focus on page 9
eventually you will likely
need to take the money
out — in fact, you must
take the money out or face
penalties. What should you
know about these mandatory
withdrawals?
Here are some of the basics:
• What are they called? Mandatory withdrawals are
technically called required minimum distributions, or
RMDs.
• When must I take RMDs? If you were born before 1951,
you’ve probably already begun taking RMDs. If you were
born between 1951 and 1959, your RMD age is 73. And if
you were born in 1960 or later, your RMD age is 75. You
can postpone accepting your first RMD until April 1 of the
year after you reach your RMD age, but this will result in
two RMDs for the year. After you take your first RMD, you
must take subsequent ones by December 31 of each year.
• What penalties will be assessed if I don’t take all my
RMDs? For every dollar not withdrawn, the IRS will charge
a 25 percent penalty, but this can drop to 10 percent if you
subsequently withdraw the correct amount within two years.
• Which accounts have RMDs? RMDs apply to traditional
IRAs, as well as other types of IRAs, including SIMPLE
and SEP IRAs. RMDs don’t apply to Roth IRAs. RMDs
also apply to traditional 401(k)s, but not Roth 401(k)s.
• Can I withdraw more than the RMD for any given
year? Yes, you are free to take out as much as you want.
However, if you take out more than the RMD for one year,
you can’t apply the excess to the RMD for the next year.
• How are RMDs calculated? Typically, your RMDs are
determined by dividing your account balance from the prior
December 31 by a life expectancy factor published by the
IRS. Your financial professional should be able to perform
this calculation for you.

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