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Happy2Bhere
Forum Leader
Username: Happy2bhere
Post Number: 4227
Registered: 02-2008
| | Posted on Friday, August 05, 2011 - 07:19 pm: | 
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One of my dear friends here in Texas Kenny Woychesin recently rec'd a SynCardia artificial heart and is doing just fine at this time. Kenny rec'd his 1st heart transplant Sept 11th 2006 but due to various rejection episodes, he was forced to look for another alternative. http://aheart4kenny.webs.com/
I was instrumental in placing Kenny's family in contact with another wonderful gentleman Bill Wohl of Arizona. Bill was dependant on a SynCardia artificial heart for many months, bridging the gap until a new human heart donor could be located, Bill's story here: http://www.syncardia.com/2010-Press-Release/total-artificial-heart-recipient-celebrates-10-years-of-life-with-donor-heart.html Bill is now a fantastic advocate of organ donation worldwide.
Kenny very recently celebrated his 39th Birthday and can be seen sitting here with his artiificial heart and his new Grandbaby.
Congratulations "Grandpa" Kenny
Ol' Bob
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Rocket Heart
Member
Username: Rocketheart583
Post Number: 538
Registered: 08-2007
| | Posted on Saturday, August 06, 2011 - 09:53 am: |
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Wow Bob that's incredible! Went to their site - they replace the whole organ for this procedure since both sides of the heart are severely damaged - won't be long till they are able to perfect this sort of thing for everyone.
Thanks for the info.
Rocket Heart
Tom Emahiser
Waterville, Oh
Heart Failure
Heart Txplt 1/26/05 University of Michigan |
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SunshineGurl
Member
Username: Flsunshinegurl
Post Number: 102
Registered: 02-2010
| | Posted on Saturday, August 06, 2011 - 02:11 pm: |
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That really is incredible! Kenny is truly blessed.
Thanks for sharing this Bob, Hope you are feeling SUPER yourself!!!!!!!
| A friend is someone who reaches for your hand but touches your heart |
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Happy2Bhere
Forum Leader
Username: Happy2bhere
Post Number: 4228
Registered: 02-2008
| | Posted on Saturday, August 06, 2011 - 05:00 pm: |
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Faster Bridge-to-Transplant
The Total Artificial Heart is the only device that provides immediate, safe blood flow of up to 9.5 L/min through both ventricles, helping vital organs recover faster. The sooner you regain your strength, the sooner you can be listed for a donor heart.
Once stable, U.S. Total Artificial Heart patients in the hospital are listed UNOS Status 1A and moved to the top of the transplant list*.
Many heart patients are deciding to use this alternative due to the rapid growth in the transplant waiting lists. Several in UK have been performed. http://www.webmd.boots.com/heart-disease/news/20110802/first-uk-total-artificial-heart-transplant
Testimony of my heart pal Bill Wohl of Arizona:
“I am so blessed to have survived in 1999,” said Wohl. “It took a month after I received the Total Artificial Heart at University Medical Center for me to wake up from a coma. Rich Smith, Director of the Artificial Heart Program, told me I was the worst cardiac case in the hospital’s history.”
Wohl credits his “Triangle Theory” for helping him become healthy enough to receive his donor heart after 159 days with the Total Artificial Heart. Today, Wohl is a decorated transplant games athlete who competes monthly in swimming, cycling and running. In 2008, he had the special opportunity to spend a week with his heart donor’s parents, Stan and Paula Brady, at the U.S. Transplant Games in Pittsburgh. He presented each of them with a gold medal he won during the week.
“It meant so much to me,” said Wohl. “It was one of my proudest moments. If I were scripting a movie, I couldn’t have written it any better.”
Another of Wohl’s accomplishments is helping establish specialty license plates for organ donation in the state of Arizona. In 2002, Wohl brought up the idea during a transplant foundation meeting in Phoenix and fellow Total Artificial Heart and transplant recipient Leo Corbet helped make it a reality. According to the Arizona Department of Transportation, as of Dec. 31, 2009, there were 4,693 Donate Life plates registered in the state of Arizona. The Arizona Coalition for Transplantation receives $17 of each $25 plate purchase and renewal.
Ol' Bob
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Happy2Bhere
Forum Leader
Username: Happy2bhere
Post Number: 4231
Registered: 02-2008
| | Posted on Thursday, August 11, 2011 - 08:56 pm: |
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I'm sure you will find this very interesting:
http://www.texasheart.org/AboutUs/News/2011-08-08news_TAH.cfm
My friend Kenny was one of these 4 recipients of the SynCardia heart.
Ol' Bob
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Happy2Bhere
Forum Leader
Username: Happy2bhere
Post Number: 4235
Registered: 02-2008
| | Posted on Thursday, August 25, 2011 - 01:54 pm: |
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After receiving his artificial heart, Kenny was given a pass from the hospital to return back home for a short time. Here's a very recent TV interview. http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news%2Fhealth&id=8316603 Kenny is tethered to a 13 pound battery pack.
I just this moment spoke with his Mom Sandy Mixon on the phone.
Prayers are requested for a speedy search for a human heart donor.
Ol' Bob
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Happy2Bhere
Forum Leader
Username: Happy2bhere
Post Number: 4237
Registered: 02-2008
| | Posted on Friday, August 26, 2011 - 05:30 pm: |
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TUCSON, Ariz. – April 21, 2011 – On April 2, San Camillo Hospital in Rome discharged its first patient to be bridged to transplant with SynCardia's Total Artificial Heart. On Feb. 23, after 832 days of life with the Total Artificial Heart, Giuseppe Nicotera received the heart transplant he'd been waiting more than two years for.
Ol' Bob
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Holly
Member
Username: Holly
Post Number: 499
Registered: 09-2007
| | Posted on Saturday, August 27, 2011 - 07:38 am: |
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OMGosh!!!!! I was on a cardiowest Total Artifical Heart at the Cleveland Clinic and it was a 400# machine!!!!!!!! I would have loved something this small! Prayers to all. Thanks Bob...Bill's journey is soooo incouraging to me especially since we were both on artifical's.
Holly Mulkerin
Medina Ohio
Heart transplant 1/28/09 I have a Happy Heart
Be kind. Remember that everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle. Harry Thompson
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Happy2Bhere
Forum Leader
Username: Happy2bhere
Post Number: 4238
Registered: 02-2008
| | Posted on Saturday, August 27, 2011 - 02:17 pm: |
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Holly, you are very lucky and Blessed.For more amazing stories about artificial heart survivors, just GOOGLE "Syncardia stories". My pal Bill Wohl's story is included.
I am celebrating my 20+ year post heart transplant and I am truly amazed at the progress being made in the organ transplant community.
Thank God and the wonderful medical personnel for their time and effort in discovering more advanced means of prolonging life, using these pumps as a bridge whilst awaiting a human organ donor.
Four total SynCardia artificial hearts were recently implanted in recipients here at Texas Heart Institute THI, all within one week.
Ol' Bob
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