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.

"It really has allowed us to treat patients that have, especially in the past, not been able to get a procedure because of the risk associated with it," said Dr. Robert Maholic of UPMC Hamot.

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,” said Roger Janes.

His wife got the same procedure a few months ago. Something that has gotten laughs from friends and family.

"It's not genetic because we're not brother and sister. We're man and wife," he said. "It just happens we reached the age where both of us had the same exact problem."

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