A new Olympic Event - Transplant Coordination

This is a very interesting article found in the NY Times.  It talks about the delicate and precise coordination necessary for a successful transplant.  While the article is about pediatric transplant the same applies, I think, to transplants of all ages.  Here is the link:

"giving-a-child-a-new-heart"

Last week the season finale NY Med the focus was on a cardio thoracic surgeon at Columbia Presbyterian in NY.  The last vignette was a transplant of a 60 something male who had a Heartmate 2 LVAD.  Very interesting to watch.  For me it was curious to see the old heart come out, looking like a deflated Walmart bouncy ball, the kind that we all love to bat out of the cage in the kids toy section, and the new heart looking like it was cut out of a thoroughbred.

Just finished the Minneapolis Duathlon

They claim it is the world's largest duathlon.  I finished in 2:09, which was 110/123 in my age division, and 540/630 for the men.  My goal was 2 hours.  My first run was 34:02, the 18 mile bike was 54:18, and the last run was 36:54.  I hit a wall at the 2 mile mark of the second 5k and while I HATE to admit it, I had to walk.  I had nothing left in the tank.  There was one major accident on the bike course, and it did look very bad, at least 10 bikes were piled up and a cyclist was down and not moving.  I am pretty sure I was the only competitor with heart failure and a LVAD so all things considered I think I kicked butt.  On to recovering...............

Interesting Debate

For anyone who has been touched by Autism this article really touches a nerve.  Doing my best to avoid all religious and political implications....but if we would give a heart transplant to a prisoner with a life sentence or on death row as we have seen in recent years, why would we EVER deny an autistic person the right to live.  What choice did they have in the hand that they are dealt?

paul-corby-autism-denied-heart-transplant

No Soup for You 1 Year

I officially came off of 1A yesterday at 12AM.  My 30 days has passed without having received the gift of a new heart.  I think I am ok with that.  While I am definitely ready for the next step I am aware that I am doing well with my LVAD and continue to push myself to take on new challenges.  So if I have to wait another year or so until I get the call so be it.  I can't say I am not happy that I get to avoid anti rejection therapy for a bit longer:-)  That is the silver lining.  And there is always the possibility of a miracle happening before I get the call:-)  I am pushing myself to compete in and complete the Minneapolis Duathlon at the end of the month.  This is a 5K run followed by a 15 mile bike ride followed by another 5K run.  I can do each of those by themselves....the challenge is doing all of them one after the other.  I have a completion time in mind but I wont say anything till after the race.