Life-saver for a life saver
Paramedic receives device that will keep him alive until he's ready for new heart
By LIZ SEGRIST
This time, it was a paramedic and volunteer firefighter who needed rescuing; and the Medical University of South Carolina hospital became the first in the state to implant a device intended to keep him alive and at home while he awaits a new heart.
The Post and Courier
Thomas Joyner undergoes a checkup Wednesday of his HeartMate II with technician Eniko Kulcsar at the Medical University of South Carolina hospital. The device is keeping Joyner alive until he receives a heart transplant.
The MUSC Heart and Vascular Team recently implanted the HeartMate II device into Thomas Joyner, a soon-to-be 48-year-old who suffers from congestive heart failure.
"I was so weak at that time that I almost didn't survive it," Joyner said about his enlarged heart and his decision to have the device implanted. "Now, the odds of me surviving a heart transplant are greatly, greatly increased."
This portable device makes at-home recovery feasible, while also decreasing the chances of clotting and strokes. The FDA-approved device is an LVAD, or left ventricular assist device, which is a pump that attaches to the heart and is designed to last three to five years.
Dr. Jennifer Peura, an MUSC heart failure and transplant cardiologist, said that because 30 percent of people awaiting a heart transplant die and because many more patients are not transplant eligible, the device serves two vital roles for patients such as Joyner.
"One, it creates a bridge for people to transplant. It keeps them alive until a heart is available, which in Thomas' case, it saved his life," Peura said. For others, it is an opportunity for organs to improve and for patients to become candidates for heart transplants.
A total of 402 heart transplants have taken place in South Carolina, according to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Web site. And according to the United Network for Organ Sharing, 2,763 people in the United States are currently waiting for a heart.
"There's a big problem in the United States because the supply just isn't big enough for the demand for hearts," said Dr. Matthew Toole, an MUSC cardiothoracic surgeon. "This device will tide people over until a heart is ready for them."
Toole said most of the mechanical problems with the HeartMate II's predecessor have been fixed. And the power line is much smaller on this device, significantly decreasing infection rates.
Peura said that before he got the device, Joyner was unable to walk a city block. She said that after post-implantation tests, he is capable of something as taxing as doubles tennis.
"It gives patients good opportunities if it can take someone as sick as he was, and then see him be someone as active as he is now, enjoying life," she said. "He stands to tolerate the surgery and much more."
Joyner said his faith in God, his rehabilitation programs and his three children give him the strength to get through such difficult times. His 13-year-old son, Drayton Joyner, said the device allows his father to "act like his old self now."
"I hope a lot of people see this and say, 'I can survive to have a heart transplant,' " Joyner said. "I'm in better shape with this device than when I came in here."
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lillycollette (anonymous) says...
This is a very interesting story-for more than the obvious reasons.
June 4, 2009 at 5:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lillycollette (anonymous) says...
Heart Failure Online
http://www.heartfailure.org/eng_site/...
June 4, 2009 at 6:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
TripleTasked (anonymous) says...
What do you mean by your first post lillycollette?
June 4, 2009 at 9:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eyfigueroa (anonymous) says...
This article reiterates the massive need for organ donation.
PLEASE PLEASE be a donor.
June 4, 2009 at 11:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
LIFESHARERS (anonymous) says...
Your story about Thomas Joyner and his need for a Heart transplant highlighted the tragic shortage of human organs for transplant operations.
Over half of the 100,000 Americans on the national transplant waiting list will die before they get a transplant. Most of these deaths are needless. Americans bury or cremate 20,000 transplantable organs every year.
There is a simple way to put a big dent in the organ shortage give donated organs first to people who have agreed to donate their own organs when they die.
Giving organs first to organ donors will convince more people to register as organ donors. It will also make the organ allocation system fairer. People who aren't willing to share the gift of life should go to the back of the waiting list as long as there is a shortage of organs.
Anyone who wants to donate their organs to others who have agreed to donate theirs can join LifeSharers. LifeSharers is a non-profit network of organ donors who agree to offer their organs first to other organ donors when they die. Membership is free at www.lifesharers.org or by calling 1-888-ORGAN88. There is no age limit, parents can enroll their minor children, and no one is excluded due to any pre-existing medical condition. LifeSharers has over 12,000 members at this writing, including 182 members in South Carolina.
Please contact me - Dave Undis, Executive Director of LifeSharers - if your readers would like to learn more about our innovative approach to increasing the number of organ donors. I can arrange interviews with some of our local members if you're interested. My email address is daveundis@lifesharers.org. My phone number is 615-351-8622.
June 4, 2009 at 12:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Grinder (anonymous) says...
One an editor always an editor... where was the editor on this one? The lead states Joyner is a paramedic and volunteer firefighter. That makes it central to the story, but there's never any more mention of where he does these things, what department, etc. Berkeley County EMS, C&B Volunteer FD.... ChasCo EMS and Mt. P volunteer?
Too bad a good lead went nowhere.
June 4, 2009 at 9:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
TacrolimusAddict (anonymous) says...
What a great story to highlight the need for organ donors. It's so easy to save 5 or 6 lives with one signature on the back of your driver's license. If you really need a transplant badly try MAYO Jacksonville, they have the shortest waiting period in the nation. I was on the waiting list for 13 days. The average wait for a Liver is 63 days.
June 5, 2009 at 12:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lillycollette (anonymous) says...
TriplTasked, check your email.
June 5, 2009 at 11:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Drayton130 (anonymous) says...
this is my dad he grew up in barnwell sc and worked ems in hampton, and volenteer fire fighter in brunson sc. he has a heart mate2. it is a heart pump that keeps him aive. if more people who need heart transplants would get these they would live at least 3 years until they had to get one. it works pretty good my dad acually has color in his face. he has a disease called cardiomyopithy it is a disease that eats your heart mucles. he runs on batteries and on electricity. please we need a heart
June 5, 2009 at 11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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