
LVAD... Left Ventricular Assist Device
PARTIAL HEART PUMP = LEFT VENTRICULAR ASSIST DEVICE = LVAD = THE HEARTMATE II
THE LVAD ALLOWED ME to go HOME and conquer my normal and newest tasks once again.
Thank you Columbia-Presbyterian... Dr Naka and his Surgery Team, LVAD Nation, Dr Bijou & Dr Bonoan, Dr Mascitelli and Dr Shulman-Marcus!!!
AND TO THE SCORES OF PHYSICIANS, NURSES, PROFESSIONALS AND PEOPLE THAT PUSHED ME ALONG THE WAY... FORWARD.
Thank You God For I Am Blessed!
If I Was An LVAD-NASCAR Race CAR
I would look like this :-)
FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY LVAD DAILY NEWS AND INFO FEED
CLICK LINK BELOW FOR:
20 October 2010
18 October 2010
TO SUBWAY PLATFORM My LVAD HAD TO CLIMB 2 STEEP FLIGHTS OF STEPS
2 flights like pictured, one right after another and not outta breath!
Thoratec Headquarters
AND THE GOOD SAGA CONTINUES...
New York Yankees, Columbia Presbyterian Hospital And The LVAD Are Unbeatable Team
And the good saga continues...
New York Yankees, Columbia Presbyterian Hospital And The LVAD Are Unbeatable MVP Team ;-)15 October 2010
SAME LVAD RODEO, DIFFERENT SPIN
11 October 2010
Care-Givers are true Warriors :-)
NEW Photos Of Former Vice President Cheney Making Giant LVAD Step October 2010
Below I found these great photos, the first of the Cheney's in public since the VP had his implant.
This photo above of the VP and his wife is my favorite... the proud and humbling smile caught on the VP's face is that given to a wife for her unconditional love and being his #1 Care-giver! 07 October 2010
Former Vice President Cheney Back Into Public Speaking With The LVAD! Back In Business!
By John D. McKinnon
Last summer, former Vice President Dick Cheney was hospitalized with congestive heart failure, and underwent a procedure to implant a tiny turbine-powered pumping device in his chest. Today, Cheney gave a speech to a national insurance group in Colorado, in a further sign that the device is working to assist his damaged heart.
Cheney was the keynote speaker on Monday at the 97th annual Insurance Leadership Forum at the Broadmoor resort in Colorado Springs.
The group that sponsored the appearance, the Washington-based Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers, was releasing no details of the former vice president’s closed-door remarks, other than to confirm that he appeared in person as scheduled.
Former President George W. Bush is scheduled to appear before the group on Tuesday. The council describes itself as “the voice of the market leaders and the premier association for commercial insurance and employee benefits intermediaries in the United States and abroad.”
And the good saga continues...
01 October 2010
Me, My LVAD And A BAT :-) The Video!
The LVAD that I have is a HeartMate II. Its purpose is to bypass my damaged Left Ventricle by pumping oxygen enriched blood into my brain, lungs and body. Its kind of a partial artificial heart, but really a blood pump. It is a manmade miracle! before i had the implant i was horizontal on a hospital bed 24/7 with little time left to live and with poor quality of life... now i can swing a bat again :-) Thank you "LVAD NATION" 7th Floor, Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in NYC
Here is a video that is my "living proof" :-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4A1yTvFOnk
29 September 2010
The General's General, The One You Want Leading The Good Fight For Your Cause.

Margaret Flannery was the first from "LVAD Nation" to meet with me and my wife. With patience Margaret explained in depth about the LVAD implant, the peripheral procedures and testings involved in order to become eligible.
Her confidence, professionalism and approachable demeanor made my decision to trust Columbia Presbyterian Hospital to perform the open heart surgery/LVAD implant very easy. A short time later Margaret made my decision even easier by bringing in Dr Naka, the surgeon who would perform the surgery. Both Dr Naka and Margaret showed me a replica of the HeartMate II LVAD. I was able to hold it and realized that this device would bring back most of the stamina that I had lost. I felt that the 2 of them were the Best of the Best Columbia had to offer.
10 months later, LVAD in place, from the bottom of my LVAD I am thankful that folks like Margaret and Dr Naka are affiliated with Columbia Presbyterian hospital.
28 September 2010
Columbia Presbyterian Hospital VAD SUPPORT GROUP September 28 2010
Dr Yoshifumi Naka, my Surgeon, and the Director of the Cardiac Transplantation and Mechanical Circulatory Support Program, stopped in and greeted everyone between the 1st and 2nd items on the agenda. Dr Naka was greeted by a round of applause and more applause from the audience as he left. After all, Dr. Naka had his skilled and gifted hands "touch" all of our hearts in more ways than one.
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2nd on the agenda was Traveling with the LVAD, presented by Khristine Orlanes, ACNP. Informative topics included "Must Haves at All Times", "Air Travel specifics" and "Land Travel". During this session, discussions led to the proper handling of our LVAS as well as offering information to the airline and TSA for security reasons.
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3rd on the agenda was "Preventing and Managing Infections", presented by Dr Nir Uriel Proffesor Clinical Medicine, Center for Advanced Cardiac Care, Columbia University. This topic was engaging as it addressed infections at the driveline Exit-Site. All in attendance were told and showed what to look for and how to avoid an infection. Well over 40% of deaths related to the LVAD is due to infection.
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Lastly, there was a spread of good healthy food, buffet style, where all the LVAD recipients, care-givers and other interested parties mingled and shared their war stories :-) at the newly built River Terrace, Milstein Family Heart Center, Columbia Presbyterian Hospital NYC.
And the good saga continues...
27 September 2010
2nd LVAD LUNCH AND LEARN
The last one pulled in over 20 LVAD recipients. I am hoping more of us is there.
And the good saga continues...
26 September 2010
Large LVAD Community Cheering Vice President Cheney
After attending the HeartMate II Ambassador Summit in Pleasanton, California, I was constantly asked how VP Cheney is faring. I only know as much as the rest. My knowledge of VP Cheney's recovery is as good as what's being released in the media. In an earlier post, I cited remarks made by his daughter, Liz Cheney and linked a radio interview that she made, where she stated that her Dad is doing well.I would just like to express that there will be a day, maybe now, that Former Vice President Dick Cheney will become an LVAD Recipient, rather than an LVAD Patient. That threshold is realistic and obtainable. It is a point in that person's life that he or she says, "Yes, this LVAD has restored my life and stamina to where it was years ago. I do have restrictions however it is a wonderful trade-off to feel this good.
So again from the bottom of our LVADs, the LVAD community wishes Vice President Cheney a happy recovery.
24 September 2010
“What can we do to make THORATEC better?” My answer was “ Build ALOT more LVADs. Save more lives”
THORATEC has proven to me that they are always looking to improve an already well-run organization. They go to extreme and tedious lengths to reinforce quality control at all levels in creating the components of the HeartMate II.

The participants of the Summit were treated to a tour of THORATEC’s manufacturing plant where I found employee morale to be comprised of pride and accountability. The participants of the summit were also engaged in a round of discussions to assist THORATEC in their future decisions and directions.
And I can say from the bottom of my LVAD that each summit participant took pride in answering any questions THORATEC posed as we all knew that sharing our experiences, giving our opinions and ideas will better the quality of life of future LVAD patients and their families.
One of the easiest questions asked of me was “What can we do to make THORATEC better?” My answer was “ Build ALOT more LVADs. Save more lives” ;-)
Being a participant at THORATEC's HeartMate II Ambassador Summit has been a phenomenal experience I will never forget.
Thank you THORATEC… from the bottom of my LVAD… each and every employee.
22 September 2010
My LVAD INFO-Card
I have been handing these cards out for the pastr several months now to raise awareness and to "explain" to folks what i really have :-) i will be bringing them to the Summit as well.18 September 2010
I am who I am TODAY because of a lot people and their passion. Let's start here...
This Wednesday at 5am, My Wife, Rosie and I are flying off to California.
We are attending Thoratec's HeartMate2 Patient Ambassador Summit 2010. We are honored and looking forward to sharing what we will learn once we come back.
Posted in the photo is part of LVAD NATION from Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan... I am who I am now because of them and would like to thank the ENTIRE staff there.
Not pictured are Margaret, Donna and the many doctors & nurses that saw me through surgery and recovery. L to R Rosie, Jennifer, Anne Marie, me and Khristine... pictures of Margaret and Donna soon to follow.
13 September 2010
Dick Cheney: ‘Doing a Lot of Physical Therapy’ After Heart Surgery—but Hoping to Go Fishing Real Soon, Says Daughter Liz
Dick Cheney: ‘Doing a Lot of Physical Therapy’ After Heart Surgery—but Hoping to Go Fishing Real Soon, Says Daughter Liz

The former veep: Angling to get back to the Cowboy State asap. You gotta hand it to Dick Cheney. Less than two months after doctors implanted a pump in his heart to compensate for increasing congestive heart failure, the 69-year-old former vice president—who has had five heart attacks over the past 32 years —is hard at work on his memoirs, while gearing up for some outdoor fun.
So says Dick’s daughter, Liz Cheney, who’s collaborating on her dad’s book, which will help put his legacy within the George W. Bush administration into perspective.
“He’s doing really well. He is back at home here in Virginia and he’s hoping to get back to what we really consider home, which is Wyoming, as soon as he can,” she tells AACONS host Marie Stroughter.“His left-ventricular assist device is essentially a pump that helps his heart function, helps his heart to pump more effectively. And that’s working wonderfully.
Liz: Helping dad cast new light on history.
“He’s doing a lot of physical therapy. He was in the hospital for about five weeks. So when you’re in the hospital for that long, it does take time to recover and come back. So that’s what he’s focused on very much now,” Liz, an attorney who held key roles in the State Department under President Bush, continues.
“But he’s doing really well, and back at work on the book. We’re looking forward to having the book come out, and also to having him get back to Wyoming.
“I think what he’d really like to do is get back on a drift boat on the Snake River and do some fishing. Hopefully that’ll come...
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/aacons/2010/09/02/interview-with-liz-cheney
03 September 2010
01 September 2010
My LVAD Experience Response Letter To A Daughter Whose Dad Is Post-Op with LVAD HeartMate ll
"As you stated my case is different than your dad's... i have no prior Heart History until my heart attack that happened about 1 month before my LVAD implant. I am also under the age of 50.
But I have LVAD friends in their late 70s and well into their 80s who are more active than they have been in 10 maybe 20 years! I know kids 19, 20 21 year olds with the LVAD. One 21 year old is a Father of 2.
The LVAD is amazing, however... respecting the Driveline and Entry Point and our diets are crucial elements in keeping healthy and preventing infection.
Bravo to your Dad, i think the key to keeping him positive through the 1st week of recovery...
...i kept setting ...Goals Setting SETTING GOALS :-) and achievements... rewarding myself by fulfilling certain food cravings... and other small goals.
Here I am seen helping to "teach" Baseball to my eldest Grandson ...along with my Son-in-law, Daughter and wife.

Also battery location... I use this Holster-shirt that undercover law enforcement wear. i conceal my batteries in these pockets :-) Nice.
I have no neck,shoulder and or back strain as the batteries are stuck to my ribs like a spider web, i barely feel the weight of the batteries while there is not any free motion of the batteries as well.
Holsters are stitched onto an actual shirt and the shirt actually stretches over the driveline that helps to keep everything snug and stable. Lower risk of tugging on the driveline and entry points too.
THE MAIN OBJECTIVE NOW IS FOR YOUR DAD TO PREVENT ALL TUGGING OF DRIVELINE ON THE ENTRY POINT OF THE BELLY. NOT GOOD! IT CAN CAUSE INFECTION. VERY BAD :-) BUT IT IS EASY TO PREVENT THE TUGGING.
I also wrapped a binder around my belly, taught by my hospital, that trapped the driveline as a secondary measure to prevent tugging on the entry point. feeling more secure too.
This style shirt makes "This" LVAD RECIP feel even more comfortable and dignified too ;-)
Sometimes when i dont wear the binder or holster-shirt i wear this small round "thing" called a Hollister that sticks to the skin and snuggly anchors the driveline like a brake, but the Hollister might be given to your dad from the hospital upon discharge... Because it was an LVADRecip from Belgium who told me of the Hollister ...!
I trust that your Dad is being Honored as his biggest Victory in Life has just occurred...
Tell your Dad to Keep Strong, fight the good fight, Heal as Quick as possible and will have fun soon :-)
BTW i am posting this on my Blog without revealing your name.
Thank you... it was a good and important topic to cover. POST-OP LVAD
If you are on Facebook, there is a Greg Wood Memorial HeartMate ll Group there that has LVAD recipients, recipient's family and friends there"
And the good saga continues...
26 August 2010
Because there is an LVAD, today is my Birthday! From The Bottom Of My LVAD... Thank You!


Thanks to ALL that made this happen!

From The Bottom Of My LVAD... Thank you
And the good saga continues...
24 August 2010
Vice President Dick Cheney Postpones September 2010 Scheduled Engagement
"Vice President :-) We Are All Routing for you!!!"
FromTheBottomOfMyLVAD
ALL INFO AND PHOTO BELOW IS "REPRINTED" FROM : http://pressofatlanticcity.com/life/article_b5626606-af9a-11df-9f6c-001cc4c03286.html?mode=image&photo=0

Former Vice President Dick Cheney's Sept. 18 appearance at the Atlantic City Hilton Casino Resort has been postponeD.
The Hilton issued a press release announcing the postponement this morning. There is no information about a new date for Cheney's appearance. Refunds will be available at the point of purchase.
The former vice president's visit to Atlantic City is the final event in the Hilton's summer speakers series, which as already brought President Bill Clinton, Bill O'Reilly and Glenn Beck, and Ann Coulter and James Carville to the resort.
Palimed.org Adresses The LVAD
http://www.pallimed.org/2008/11/destination-lvads.html
Pallimed: Case Conferences: November 2008Nov 13, 2008 ... Most recently, she went to the OR to have her current LVAD replaced with a ... Patients on LVADS or BIVADS are physically restricted... http://www.pallimed.org/2008_11_01_archive.html
Pallimed: A Hospice & Palliative Medicine Blog: Heart failure ...Aug 27, 2007 ... LVADs, in the simplest terms, are implantable devices which augment the pumping ... Full-sized LVAD image (& further discussion) at WebMD, ...
http://www.pallimed.org/2007/08/heart-failure-devices.html
Pallimed: A Hospice & Palliative Medicine Blog: Rise of the MachinesDec 10, 2009 ... For those of you unfamiliar with LVADs, essentially they are .... Personally, I'd take the LVAD, at least at a younger age (and if you are ...
http://www.pallimed.org/2009/12/rise-of-machines.html
Pallimed: A Hospice & Palliative Medicine Blog: Holiday HeartAug 15, 2010 ... At the time, LVADs were used only as a bridge to heart transplant. ... The number of patients receiving a LVAD as a bridge to transplant or ...
http://www.pallimed.org/2010/08/holiday-heart.html
Pallimed: A Hospice & Palliative Medicine Blog: Pall-PourriDec 3, 2008 ... Many of the cases submitted this year for the Annual Assembly case conferences were on LVAD's. We ended up selecting one. December 08, 2008 ...
http://www.pallimed.org/2008/12/pall-pourri.html
Pallimed: A Hospice & Palliative Medicine Blog: 09_12Dec 1, 2009 ... For those of you unfamiliar with LVADs, essentially they are implanted pumps which are inserted directed into the heart and major vessels ...
http://www.pallimed.org/2009_12_01_archive.html
Pallimed: A Hospice & Palliative Medicine Blog: 07_08Aug 3, 2007 ... Journal of the American College of Cardiology has a trial looking at left-ventricular assist devices (LVADs) as destination therapy in ...
http://www.pallimed.org/2007_08_01_archive.html
Pallimed: A Hospice & Palliative Medicine Blog: NYT Sunday ...Jun 20, 2010 ... I come across these situations fairly often working at a large hospital where the heart transplant and LVAD services are quite aggressive. ...
Pallimed: A Hospice & Palliative Medicine Blog: 08_12Dec 3, 2008 ... JAMA has a paper looking at some aspects of the 'natural history' of LVADs (see recent post). The paper adds some further detail to the ...
http://www.pallimed.org/2008_12_01_archive.html
Pallimed: A Hospice & Palliative Medicine Blog: Quality vs ...Aug 15, 2008 ... LVAD, improved symptoms and survival, lots of care burdens, lingering death). The basis of this seems to be several trials of oral inotropes ...
http://www.pallimed.org/2008/08/quality-vs-quantity-of-life-in-chf.html
Pallimed: A Hospice & Palliative Medicine Blog: 07_01LVAD anyone? The other talk that looks pretty interesting to me is the one on Pain Research, although I hope it does not get to bogged down in discussions ...
http://www.pallimed.org/2007_01_01_archive.html
AS THE LVAD SPINS... The LVAD Links Its Recipients Into A Special Community
Since i started this blog, folks come to me with questions about the LVAD. By no means am i an expert, nor medical professional. I am a very lucky man with an LVAD implant and it is grafted to my heart. The LVAD, Heartmate 2, has given back to me what the Heart Attack took away!

Ever since the NEWS broke about VP Cheney receiving an LVAD as well, my email inbox and phone messages are SWARMED by the question HOW IS VP DICK CHENEY?

I wish some words or signals came out of his camp. But i do understand his need for privacy... as I do enjoy my privacy as well. I can only guess that he is doing well and following the course set for him and his condition by his team of Doctors... We hope and pray he is well, but am comfortable in knowing he is in great medical hands... no doubt!
Again The LVAD community sends its BEST wishes and Prayers out to Vice President Dick Cheney! Keep Strong in body and mind!!!
20 August 2010
1st Annual LVAD-WIFFLE BALL 2010 MEET

So it "dawned" upon me, why not stick ball? Wiffle ball?
It is a VERY TAME form of baseball that does not require running. The equipment used is a light plastic bat and ball. Scoring and outs are determined by the distance and location of where the ball is hit or NOT HIT :-)
I live in the NYC area but would hold this 1st Annual CHAMPIONSHIP at a central location or at several locations.
If interested or have ideas to make this a reality, contact me @ LVADone@gmail.com
At this juncture, WIFFLE Inc is not affiliated with this Planned event.
The WIFFLE® perforated plastic ball -
The WIFFLE ball was designed to take the place of baseball, stickball and softball for boys and girls in back yards and city streets. It is made of a tough rubbery plastic – is light in weight and cannot be thrown or hit any great distance. The WIFFLE ball is also an excellent indoor ball.
The Pitches -
The WIFFLE ball is thrown like a baseball and will curve very easily. The diagrams below show how the ball should be held for curving and controlling the ball. Experiment with different grips and releases to find the pitches that work best for you. There is no need to throw the ball hard to produce results!

The Game - played with the WIFFLE perforated plastic ball
As stated above, the WIFFLE ball was designed for use in congested areas. Because the ball will not travel far when solidly hit, ball chasing and base running have been eliminated. An ordinary broom handle can be used if a WIFFLE bat is not available. The size of the playing field is optional, but we recommend a minimum dimension of 20 feet in width at the home run markers (approx. 8 paces) by about 60 feet long (approx. 23 paces) from home plate to each home run marker. The field is laid out with foul lines and markers for singles, doubles triples and home run areas. See sketch of suggested playing field.

The minimum number of players required to play a game with the WIFFLE ball is two – the pitcher and batter – one player per side. The maximum number of players that can complete are ten – five players to a side. If a full team is playing, each side will consist of a catcher, pitcher, double area fielder, triple area fielder and home run area fielder. Fielders cannot move from one area to another when a full team is playing. When more than two players are playing, captains for each side are picked and they choose their respective teams alternately. As in baseball, the game is played with one team at bat and one team in the field. The batting order of the team at bat shall be Pitcher, Catcher, Double Area player, Triple Area player and finally Home Run area player. The rules of play are similar to baseball, however there is no base running. Three outs to retire a side, per inning, nine innings per game. In case of a tie, additional innings are played. For a complete inning, both sides must bat.
An out for the batter can be made in three ways:
The batter can strike out only if he/she swings at a pitched ball and does not foul tip the third strike. Foul tips count as a strike for the first two strikes only. A foul tip caught in back of the batters box does not count as an out.
Fly balls caught in fair or foul territory
Ground balls caught while the ball is in motion, in fair territory. Bunting is not allowed and the batter cannot obtain a base on balls.
Scoring -
Single markers are placed approximately 24 feet from home plate on the foul line. A ball hit in the single area (i.e. the area between batters box and single markers and not caught, constitutes a single. Double markers are placed approximately 20 feet in back of the single markers on the foul line. A ball hit in the double area (between the single marker and the double marker) and not caught constitutes a double. Triple markers are placed on foul lines 20 feet back of the double markers. Balls hit in the triple area (between the double markers and triple markers) and not caught, constitute a triple. Balls hit past the triple markers, and not caught, constitute a home run.
The baseball rules of scoring apply:
Example: A player hits a single – his/her team has a man on first base (imaginary runners). The next player hits a single – the team now has a man of first and second. Third batter hits a home run – three runs score! (The imaginary runners on first and second, plus the home run.)
A batter earns 1 imaginary base on a single, 2 imaginary bases on a double and 3 imaginary bases on a triple.
A runner on 1st advances one base on a single, 2 bases on a double and scores on a triple
A runner on 2nd base scores on a single, double, or triple.
A runner on 3rd base scores on any hit.
Copyright 1954, 1982, 1999 The Wiffle Ball, Inc.
AND THE GOOD SAGA CONTINUES...





















