" They told me I had 6 months to a year to live. This device has given me a new lease on Life." Vierna was involved in the clinical trial to determine how well the VAD would work, its been 5.5 years.
David Pierce's Story
David Pierce has the distinguished recognition of being the longest living HeartMate II LVAD patient in the U.S. David received his first LVAD on May 26, 2004, at the age of 52. Today, he is living a happy, healthy life — and spending precious time with his family.
David’s heart issues began when with a heart attack at age 41. Eleven years later, he was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. “I couldn’t walk more than 15 feet without stopping,” he says. Today, however, David is a “new man,” and credits Francis D. Pagani, M.D., Ph.D., a cardiac surgeon and director of the U-M Center for Circulatory Support, who implanted his LVAD 10 years ago.
David’s protocol has become a family affair, with his thee sons learning as much as their parents about how to deal with any potential LVAD issues. Even David’s four young granddaughters are part of the program, retrieving new batteries for grandpa’s equipment when needed.
David’s wife, Judy, clearly remembers the morning of surgery 10 years ago, saying, “David went in with cold feet and came out with warm feet and a new outlook on life,” she says. David adds, "The eliptical machine is afraid I'm going to wear him out these days."
David, Judy and granddaughters
This device is a blessing!