Schroeder’s Condition Raised to ‘Satisfactory’

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Artificial heart recipient William J. Schroeder’s condition on Thursday was upgraded to satisfactory for the first time since he suffered three strokes on Dec. 13, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Schroeder demonstrated his improvement--which prompted doctors to change his listing from serious but stable--by taking his first unassisted walk since the strokes through Humana Hospital Audubon hallways, spokeswoman Linda Broaddus said.

“It was a noteworthy walk,” she said of Wednesday’s unscheduled stroll.

“He was returning in the afternoon from physical therapy, and, after getting off of the elevator on the floor where his private room is located, he handed the walker to the nurse and walked unassisted back to his room from the elevator.”

Broaddus said she did not know how far Schroeder had walked and said that he had no comment about it later.

“When he handed the walker to the nurse, I believe he said, ‘I don’t need this,’ and then he walked back to the room,” Broaddus said.

Schroeder, 52, of Jasper, Ind., has been toning his muscles in daily physical therapy sessions and had been taking short walks with help.

With “his hand on nurse’s shoulder, he would move around, walk around within his room,” Broaddus said. “But this was the first time that he had walked . . . an extended distance unassisted.”

Despite the general improvement in his condition, Schroeder’s schedule is not expected to differ much from previous days.

He will continue the daily program of therapy--speech, physical and occupational--and is “where doctors feel he should be in his recovery,” Broaddus said.

Like many stroke victims, he has been depressed but recently has shown signs of his former light-hearted demeanor.

Dr. William DeVries, who implanted the Jarvik-7 heart in Schroeder’s chest on Nov. 25, noticed improvement in Schroeder’s attitude Wednesday, telling Broaddus that Schroeder had been “joking some.”

Difficulty with speaking and coordination brought on by the strokes has left Schroeder frustrated, but Broaddus said that he has shown signs of “gradual” improvement in both areas.