Patient & Caregiver Stories

Phillip’s sister passed away from heart failure when she was 45. Phillip began to experience heart failure symptoms himself around the same age. Feeling short of breath and unable to walk for even short periods of time, Phillip knew that he wanted to intervene sooner rather than later.

Jeff, 70 years old and a former engineer, found out that he was not eligible for a heart transplant. His doctors recommended he get an LVAD as “destination therapy.” That meant he would live with the device for the rest of his life.

Elizabeth’s husband, Jeff, had been suffering with heart issues for a few years. After speaking with the medical team, they decided together that he should get an LVAD.

Brenda’s doctor recommended the LVAD. But the idea of surgery scared her. Still, she was tired of feeling out of breath. She also wanted to move around more easily. At 56, the former facilities operator was used to being on the go.

Before Susan got an LVAD, she had trouble moving around. ㅤ “I could walk, but I could hardly breathe,” she said. “If I could breathe, I couldn’t walk.”

Sam is 65 and a retired police officer. His wife, Susan, suffered a heart attack. After that, her health got worse. She couldn’t walk without stopping many times to catch her breath.