An Erie hospital is celebrating more than just the holidays this year. They're celebrating a milestone heart procedure. 

UPMC Hamot has performed 1,500 transcatheter aortic valve replacements. The procedure, also known as TAVR, has been done at the hospital since 2012.

The aortic valve is a big blood vessel connected to the heart. When it’s deteriorating, people can be short of breath and get lightheaded. Doctors say the procedure is minimally invasive and life-changing.

The 1500th TAVR patient is excited to get back to doing what he loves.

“I haven’t been able to ski because it’s just too much work. Now I’ll be able to run the snowmobiles and go out skiing and do other things that I enjoy,” Roger Janes said.

He got the procedure Thursday and is recovering well, he said.

Monday on Erie News Now Sunrise: The special connection Janes' wife has to the procedure.