Dick Cheney, the former US Vice President who passed away this week due to complications from pneumonia and cardiac disease, had a long battle with heart trouble that nearly took his life on multiple occasions.
At just 37 years old, Cheney experienced his first heart attack, a young age in which such an event can be particularly concerning. Despite this initial scare, he would go on to survive not one, not two, but four more heart attacks before his condition became too dire for a transplant. This accumulation of heart problems is a stark reminder of how quickly cardiovascular disease can progress.
Throughout the years, Cheney underwent extensive treatment, including quadruple bypass surgery and artery-clearing angioplasties, as well as receiving a pacemaker to monitor his heartbeat. He also experienced issues with blood vessels in his legs. However, even these interventions were not enough to prevent his condition from worsening.
After five heart attacks, Cheney's heart was severely damaged, leading to what is known as congestive heart failure. In an effort to compensate for this failing organ, he received a small pump called a left ventricular assist device (LVAD), which took over the main pumping function of his heart and was powered by batteries worn in a fanny pack.
In 2012, at the age of 71, Cheney underwent a groundbreaking heart transplant, an operation that more than 70% of recipients live for at least five years. While Cheney's case was exceptional due to his advanced age at the time of transplantation, it highlights the vast potential of organ transplants in saving lives.
Unfortunately, despite progress in heart transplantation rates, there remains a significant shortage of available organs. According to recent data, only 2,378 people received a heart transplant last year, and many adults suffering from advanced heart failure are never placed on the transplant list due to the organ shortage. This highlights the urgent need for more transplantable hearts and increased efforts to address this pressing health issue.
Cheney's remarkable story serves as a poignant reminder of both the triumphs and challenges of organ transplantation. While it is clear that his new heart gave him a second chance at life, it also underscores the ongoing struggle to secure organs for those in dire need.
At just 37 years old, Cheney experienced his first heart attack, a young age in which such an event can be particularly concerning. Despite this initial scare, he would go on to survive not one, not two, but four more heart attacks before his condition became too dire for a transplant. This accumulation of heart problems is a stark reminder of how quickly cardiovascular disease can progress.
Throughout the years, Cheney underwent extensive treatment, including quadruple bypass surgery and artery-clearing angioplasties, as well as receiving a pacemaker to monitor his heartbeat. He also experienced issues with blood vessels in his legs. However, even these interventions were not enough to prevent his condition from worsening.
After five heart attacks, Cheney's heart was severely damaged, leading to what is known as congestive heart failure. In an effort to compensate for this failing organ, he received a small pump called a left ventricular assist device (LVAD), which took over the main pumping function of his heart and was powered by batteries worn in a fanny pack.
In 2012, at the age of 71, Cheney underwent a groundbreaking heart transplant, an operation that more than 70% of recipients live for at least five years. While Cheney's case was exceptional due to his advanced age at the time of transplantation, it highlights the vast potential of organ transplants in saving lives.
Unfortunately, despite progress in heart transplantation rates, there remains a significant shortage of available organs. According to recent data, only 2,378 people received a heart transplant last year, and many adults suffering from advanced heart failure are never placed on the transplant list due to the organ shortage. This highlights the urgent need for more transplantable hearts and increased efforts to address this pressing health issue.
Cheney's remarkable story serves as a poignant reminder of both the triumphs and challenges of organ transplantation. While it is clear that his new heart gave him a second chance at life, it also underscores the ongoing struggle to secure organs for those in dire need.
its sad he went thru so much with his heart but u gotta feel 4 him getting a new one & giving himself another shot at life 
especially after all he's been thru he def deserves 2 live life 2 the fullest 
still sad tho cuz thats what happened 2 lots of ppl whos hearts rnt lucky enuf 2 get a transplant 
we gotta do more 2 help find orgins 4 those who need em
I feel so bad for Dick Cheney's family 
He went through so much pain and struggled with his health for most of his life. It's crazy how quickly cardiovascular disease can progress - like, he was 37 and already had a heart attack 
Quadruple bypass surgery is no joke too... that sounds super invasive 
. I'm glad the LVAD helped him get by, but it's wild that he still needed a transplant at 71 
What's even crazier is how many people are dying waiting for an organ transplant 
We need to do more to address this shortage ASAP! 
u know, this dick cheney guy's story is wild 1st off. i mean, he had 5 heart attacks & was considered for a transplant @ 71 lol what would u do w/ that kind of situation? 
the problem is, tho, we still need more organs available. i mean, 2378 ppl got a heart transplant last year? that's not even close to enough considering how many ppl are out there w/ advanced heart failure. 
we gotta do better than that
But seriously, his story does highlight the importance of organ transplants and addressing the shortage. We need more donors and better resources to help people like him get the treatment they need 
? like dick cheney had to deal with complications from that all these years and he was only 37 lol what's next gonna happen to us when we're 40 or something?? 
anyway back to this heart transplant thingy... it's so cool they have this LVAD thingy now but still not enough orgins for ppl in need 
Cheney's survival story is still on my mind . The fact that he went through four more heart attacks and was near death multiple times & then got a transplant & lived for many years is crazy 
I'm just thinking about all the people who aren't as lucky, stuck waiting for an organ . It's heartbreaking to see people struggling like that.
. I mean, we all know people who've gotten transplants in their 50s and lived to be 80+ 
. And what about those of us who don't have access to a top-notch hospital with an expert team like the ones Cheney had? It's not just about the number on the transplant list, it's about getting connected with a donor in the first place 
, especially when you're young and think youre invincible lol 37 is super young to have that kinda drama happen, but Cheney's all about proof that even at a later age u can still bounce back after some serious health setbacks, 4 heart attacks?! thats wild 
and i think its great that Cheney got a second chance at life, but u feel me when they say theres still this huge shortage of organs...its like, we need to find ways 2 increase availability, cuz its not fair 2 those people who r struggling 
Anyway, it's clear the medical team did everything they could for him, and I guess having that transplant gave him a chance to breathe easy again (no pun intended 
). But seriously, the organ shortage is still such a huge problem... 2,378 people last year? That's just not enough!