Heart Recipient Schroeder Goes Fishing, Lands Two

Artificial heart recipient William J. Schroeder and his family hung out the “Gone Fishing” sign at their Louisville apartment this weekend and took off for a nearby lake.

Meanwhile, doctors at Humana Hospital Audubon have inserted a device in the most recent Jarvik-7 heart recipient, Jack Burcham, to help connect him to a kidney dialysis machine if that becomes necessary, a hospital spokeswoman said Sunday.

On Saturday, Schroeder, 53, the world’s second artificial heart recipient and the first to make it beyond a hospital room, went fishing with several family members at a small lake near Louisville, said Donna Hazle, director of public affairs for the hospital.

“He caught a couple of fish, and (son) Mel said Bill really enjoyed it--the whole family enjoyed it,” she said.

Schroeder’s Second Outing

It was the second outing for the Jasper, Ind., native since he moved into an apartment near the hospital April 6. On April 13, he went to the homes of Dr. Allan Lansing and Dr. William C. DeVries, Hazle said.

And as with previous trips, the fishing venture was reported one day later to allow the Schroeders’ escape from the news media.

“The family was real pleased there weren’t a lot of people around,” Hazle said. “But some of the local fishermen grabbed their cameras when they saw Bill and his Utah drive (power system).”

She reported Sunday that Burcham’s “urine output has decreased over the last 24 hours indicating renal insufficiency.” Burcham, 62, of Le Roy, Ill., received the Jarvik-7 heart April 14.

Arterial Shunt Inserted

“A temporary arterial venous shunt was inserted late Saturday afternoon, which can be used later if dialysis is required.

“All of (our) artificial heart patients have developed early, temporary renal insufficiencies, but none so far has required dialysis,” Hazle said.

No change was reported Sunday in the condition of Murray P. Haydon, 58, the other mechanical heart patient still under care at Humana Hospital Audubon.

“His recovery is just a real slow process. Weaning him from the respirator continues, but it’s going very slowly,” Hazle said.