555-Day Journey: Living Without a Human Heart

Photo byEveryday Houston

Stan Larkin, a 25-year-old resident of Michigan, remarkably endured 555 days without a human heart transplant. Carrying a gray backpack housing a power source for an artificial heart that sustained his circulation, Larkin faced a unique medical journey. In November 2014, medical professionals surgically removed Larkin's failing heart and replaced it with an innovative device, allowing him to reside at home rather than in a medical facility during the challenging wait for a suitable transplant. The creative field of transplant medicine embraces the potential use of human organs grown in pigs as a promising solution for patients awaiting life-saving transplants.

The eagerly anticipated total artificial heart became available in May 2016, marking a significant advancement in cardiac care. Following his procedure at the esteemed University of Michigan Frankel Cardiovascular Center, Larkin made a successful recovery and returned to the comfort of his home the ensuing week. In 2016, approximately 4,000 patients across the nation awaited human heart transplants, facing the precarious reality of organ failure while waiting for a suitable match.

The revolutionary artificial heart technology is the brainchild of Syncardia, offering hope and improved outcomes for individuals in need of advanced cardiac intervention.