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Donors Artificial Heart Heart Transplants Adults Heart and Lung Domino Transplants Lvad's Carers Story Waiting For Transplant |
Back in 2001 I was told that I would be lucky if I had one more year to live. I couldn't walk across the room without being out of breath. My heart was failing and I was 67 years old. When I asked about the possibility of a heart transplant I was told that I was to old. I was very depressed but my wife would not take no as an answer. She went on the internet and found that Stanford took people over 65 and U.C.L.A. took people over the age of 70. My cardiologist was not at all impressed but after much pressure she referred me to Stanford. From what I have found out often cardiologists know little about heart transplants and tend to discourage them, especially in a person that are a little older. They feel it is too much for a person, let alone an older person to go through. Don't listen to that type of talk. People over the age of 70 usually get an older heart or a marginal (a heart that is not perfect but is healthy enough to be transplanted after a small amount of surgery). If you are over 70 and get a 60 year old heart you still have many good years. Persons between the age of 65 and 70 may be given either a younger, older, or marginal heart. The unfortunate thing is that more than 2000 healthy hearts go without being transplanted because there is not a recipient in the immediate area and the trip to the nearest match may be too far away because of the short period of time a heart will survive. I was transplanted the last week of November, 2001. I was very surprised at how easily the operation went and how little pain there was. I felt better as soon as I came out of the anesthetic. I am a musician that plays piano, writes and arranges music. I am back to playing professionally, and I rehearse my 20 piece jazz band each week. I do most all the writing for my group. The main thing is being pushy with the doctors. You know what you want and you must make sure you are heard. If the doctor says no, get another doctor. If the transplant hospital says no, go to another transplant hospital. Don't let anyone tell you that you are too old. Best wishes Bob Enos
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