LVAD LIVING
wants your stories.
EVERY MONTH WE WILL PRINT THE STORIES FROM OUR FAMILIES AND SHARE THE EXPERIENCES THEY HAVE WEATHERED.
AT THE TIME OF THIS EDITION WE WERE ABLE TO GATHER DATA FROM THE TWO LEADING VAD MANUFACTURORS IN THE WORLD. HEARTWARE AND THORATEC.
Data as of October 2013
FROM THORATEC STATES THAT 15000 PEOPLE ARE RECIPIENTS OF THE HEARTMATE VAD.
Data as of June 2014 FROM HEARTWARE STATES THAT 6500 PEOPLE ARE RECIPIENTS OF THE HEARTWARE HVAS.
OUR VAD FAMILY IS AT LEAST 22000 STRONG.
REMEMBER THE MOMENT YOU WERE TOLD ABOUT YOUR HEART CONDITION. FOR MYSELF, I REALLY DIDN'T BELIEVE IT.
YOUR EXPERIENCE MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN THE SAME. HOWEVER, YOUR SITUATION WILL LIKELY BE SIMILAR TO SOMEONE JUST HEARING THIS NEWS.
FOR ME, TALKING WITH VAD RECIPIENTS AT THE HOSPITAL WAS VERY HELPFUL BUT TIME CONSUMING. AND I WAS ONLY ABLE TO SPEAK WITH TWO VAD RECIPIENTS BEFORE MY SURGERY DATE.
BOTH OF THEM WERE HOSPITALIZED FOR COMPLICATIONS FROM THE VAD. MY MEDICAL BACKGROUND ALLOWED ME TO BE VERY AWARE OF THE RISKS AND REWARDS OF VAD IMPLANT.
WE HAVE THE CHANCE TO CONNECT WITH ANOTHER PERSON WHOSE PATH IS UNKNOWN. WE CAN'T PREDICT THEIR FUTURE BUT WE CAN SHARE THE INFORMATION WE HAVE
ACQUIRED ALONG OUR VAD CHALLENGE.
GENE SHIMANDLE