Haydon’s Wife Urges Future Heart Implant Patients to ‘Go for It’
The wife and children of Murray P. Haydon, the world’s third artificial heart recipient, said Wednesday that they were “overjoyed” with his progress, and his wife, Juanita, urged anyone considering an implant to “go for it.”
The condition of both the world’s living artificial heart recipients improved Wednesday, with William J. Schroeder making especially encouraging progress.
“There’s been a dramatic improvement in his condition” since Monday, Dr. Allan M. Lansing, medical director of Humana Heart Institute International, said of Schroeder. “And it’s like night and day compared to a week ago.”
Schroeder, who suffered a stroke three weeks after his implant, was reported to be initiating conversations and able to say more complicated words, such as “Mississippi.”
The persistent, mysterious fever that had sapped Schroeder’s strength and spirit for three weeks has disappeared. “It’s a fantastic relief to see that fever go away,” Lansing said.
He said he hopes that the second artificial heart patient can be discharged from the hospital sometime next week.
Dr. William C. DeVries, chief investigator for the mechanical heart, refused to allow Schroeder outside after several television crews staked out the hospital parking lot, Humana Hospital Audubon spokesman Robert Irvine said. Tuesday, Schroeder took a wheelchair ride in the sun.
Meanwhile, Haydon, 58, of Louisville, was “neurologically intact” with normal vital signs and was in good spirits, Lansing said.
During the Haydon family’s first public appearance, tears welled up in the eyes of several members as they talked about Haydon’s second chance for life.
“If he hadn’t had it (the implant) done, we wouldn’t have him today,” said his wife of 32 years during a news conference at Humana Hospital Audubon.
“His mood is good,” said his daughter, Diana Welsh, 30. Welsh, whose three children include 15-month-old twin boys, said her father must plan on being around awhile because “he says he’s going to teach the twins to help push his machine around.”
Like Schroeder, Haydon is tethered to a 323-pound drive unit that powers the heart. It can be replaced for short periods by a portable unit.
Haydon’s family said his decision to participate in the heart implant program was a difficult one for him but an easy one for them.
“Even though we wanted it desperately, we couldn’t make the decision for him,” Welsh said.
“One of the questions I remember he asked (DeVries) was: ‘Does Bill Schroeder feel better than I do right now?’ ” Welsh said. At the time, Haydon “had trouble breathing, and just brushing his teeth was tiring for him.” He was assured that Schroeder did feel better than he did.
Finally, the decision was made. “I’m tired of being tired and I want it,” Haydon told DeVries, according to son Derek, 24.
Juanita Haydon said she visited Schroeder Saturday and knew that a stroke like the one he suffered could happen to her husband.
“I’m real happy with the way everything’s going,” she said Wednesday. “But I also saw the other side of it.”
Although Schroeder still has some memory loss and speech difficulties because of his stroke, Juanita Haydon said she considers the implant a success.
Margaret Schroeder “has him today, where if he hadn’t had it, he wouldn’t be here,” she said.
