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‘Riverdale’ Star Skeet Ulrich Shares Gruesome Photo From His Open-Heart Surgery
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Aug. 7 2019, Updated 4:08 p.m. ET
Bryan Ray “Skeet” Ulrich celebrated an important milestone on August 6. The date marks 39 years since he received life-saving open-heart surgery.
Watch!
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He shared a graphic picture on Instagram from the operation to commemorate the day. The Riverdale actor, 49, captioned it, “I had a 25% chance of surviving open heart surgery. Thanks to the skill and dedication of my surgeons I am alive and well. Thank you to everyone who have dedicated their lives to saving others.”
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As a kid, Skeet grew up with constant bouts of pneumonia. At the age of ten, he doctors found a cleft mitral valve and a hole in his ventricular wall, hence the open-heart surgery. The operation left the Scream actor with a big scar and a defensive posture.
![//shutterstock_editorial_de_huge](https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/83A0Yz7si/480x307/2019/08/shutterstock_editorial_9327832de_huge.jpg 480w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/83A0Yz7si/640x409/2019/08/shutterstock_editorial_9327832de_huge.jpg 640w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/83A0Yz7si/768x490/2019/08/shutterstock_editorial_9327832de_huge.jpg 768w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/83A0Yz7si/1024x653/2019/08/shutterstock_editorial_9327832de_huge.jpg 1024w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/83A0Yz7si/1280x817/2019/08/shutterstock_editorial_9327832de_huge.jpg 1280w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/83A0Yz7si/1440x919/2019/08/shutterstock_editorial_9327832de_huge.jpg 1440w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/83A0Yz7si/1600x1021/2019/08/shutterstock_editorial_9327832de_huge.jpg 1600w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/83A0Yz7si/2160x1378/2019/08/shutterstock_editorial_9327832de_huge.jpg 2160w)
Fans sent the actor good vibes in the comments section and congratulated him on a successful recovery. “You have one of the best hearts I’ve ever seen. Don’t ever change brother,” someone wrote. Many sent heart emojis and commended Skeet for being such a strong fighter.
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Others shared their own stories. “I had open heart surgery when I was 3 months old, due to 2 holes in my heart. I have a scar down my chest now and my parents were told I wouldn’t live past the age of 2 without the surgery. But there was also a chance I wouldn’t survive with it. But I’m almost 15 now n still going” one fan wrote. “My dad had that not to long ago and now he is stronger than ever,” another chimed in.
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"I had open heart surgery last July. Here's to being a survivor and being heart healthy now!” One follower commented. “That’s incredible. I had open heart surgery at 11 months and again at 23 and it always has fascinated me no end how they work with the heart!” another empathized.
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Skeet will return as FP Jones in season four of The CW’s Riverdale on October 9.
![//MEGA_](https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/qAacvOEo8/480x307/2019/08/MEGA328298_165.jpg 480w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/qAacvOEo8/640x409/2019/08/MEGA328298_165.jpg 640w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/qAacvOEo8/768x490/2019/08/MEGA328298_165.jpg 768w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/qAacvOEo8/1024x653/2019/08/MEGA328298_165.jpg 1024w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/qAacvOEo8/1280x817/2019/08/MEGA328298_165.jpg 1280w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/qAacvOEo8/1440x919/2019/08/MEGA328298_165.jpg 1440w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/qAacvOEo8/1600x1021/2019/08/MEGA328298_165.jpg 1600w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/qAacvOEo8/2160x1378/2019/08/MEGA328298_165.jpg 2160w)
What do you think of Skeet’s open-heart surgery recovery? Sound off in the comments below!