Profile picture for user gldoble57
Gregory D. Recipient

My oh My 5 years and still kick'n it :)

Hello to all of my LVAD brothers and sisters out there. Come the middle of this month I will have had my LVAD HM II for 5 years. Not a bad stinit considering 5 years ago I should have died. But my primary LVAD and Cardiac Hospital pulled me through with 3 months in the hospital, massive infections and hanging on by a spiders thread. So I suppose that this is a type of mile stone of sorts. SInce I have had my LVAD, I watched my sons graduate from High School and my daughter start. I worked in China and the EU for 3 years, by myself. Never had an infection until last year and it was a dosy. Pseudonymous A, that -NO- antibiotic could cure. However I found a facility with a grat ID doctor and she and I worked to use an Old School remedy, Bacteriophage. Did it work ahhh yup. All gone? Well.. to a point possibly yes, slight chance that it still hiding out on the non-coprial parts inside of me. Don't know, don't care. For over a year and a half I was in and out of two different hospitals dying with both sepsis or bacteremia. Touch and go each time. But now I am still here, walking, kick'n butt and take'n names. Should I get a transplant? Yes. However two of the three hospitals I have been evaluated at; said "Infection...No cookie for you". The third...well yes they will do it but I need to wait and wait and wait. However it is better than a no. I suppose. It would be great to be able to catch back up on my three S's, (Swimming, Sailing, Surfing), but if not then its not that big of a deal as long as I can keep the infections at bay. The thought of living another 5 years with my LVAD, most times is not too bad others, ehhh. No different than wearing pants. A necessary evil I suppose. So do I bemoan, the time I was given? Not just no, but HELL NO. I am grateful for it and anything extra is just cake and Ice cream. Chocolate of course. I don't know what each tomorrow will bring. Not supposed to. But as long as I wake up, hit the bathroom, get my coffee and watch the sun come up. I will know it was well worth it. It is what it is, and it will be what it will be. So if I can so all of this then all of you can too. Get out there, walk, talk, live and enjoy EVERYTHING !!!
Profile picture for user rlouis1439
ron l.

Wonderful I'd say. I followed a gentleman in MN who received a HM ll @ age 71 and had it for 12 yrs. A young lady in her late 30s I want to say, is getting close to 9 yrs. She's decided against a transplant because of her QOL. She's waiting because advances are coming so fast. I don't have one yet but at some point I hope to be able to make the decision. Hopefully after many more advancements. Keep it up!