Jerry Walczak

Jerry Walczak will undergo an aortic valve replacement and left atrial appendage occlusion at Hamilton Health Sciences. You can follow the procedure live here on Twitter. (Hamilton Health Sciences)

Jerry Walczak is undergoing heart surgery at Hamilton General Hospital Friday. The hospital began live Tweeting the procedure 6 a.m. Friday.

According to the Hamilton Health Sciences Twitter account Walczak, 59, is one of more than 1800 patients who will have heart surgery at the hospital this year.

Walczak's surgeon, Dr. Richard Whitlock says he has a blocked heart valve and the procedure will require doctors to "cut out his heart valve and sew in a new valve."

Walczak said he hopes the surgery will allow him to live for many more years. "With three daughters which are still relatively young hopefully I will be a grandfather one day... and not a grumpy one because my heart is going to be healthy," he said. "I can take their abuse."

​Here's a video Hamilton Health Sciences produced to introduce Walczak and the procedure he's having done Friday:

Cardiac Live Tweet from Hamilton Health Sciences on Vimeo.