After years of living with heart trouble, William was diagnosed with heart failure. At Memorial Cardiac and Vascular Institute he received a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) to help his heart pump blood.

“His kidneys and other organs had stopped working and our objective was to get him stabilized,” said Jose Garcia, MD, Chief, Heart Transplant Surgery and Mechanical Circulatory Support.

“He was too sick for a heart transplant, so he ended up getting the LVAD, a small pump that’s implanted in the heart,” said Janice Odom, RN, VAD coordinator. “It helps lessen heart failure symptoms while patients await a heart transplant.”

When a heart became available, William received his transplant. “We’re pleased to see him doing so well, up and walking around,” said Dr. Garcia.

“I feel a lot better,” William said. “I’ve got a strong beating heart. Without it, I wouldn’t be here.”