Heart Patient Haydon Marks 59th Birthday

Artificial heart recipient Murray P. Haydon, reported “more alert” as he recovers from a stroke, marked his 59th birthday Friday with family members.

“We’re giving him a little party. Just a few staff members and some of his family will be there,” said Donna Hazle, spokeswoman for Humana Hospital Audubon.

“There will be a few gifts and, naturally, pictures of the event,” she said.

Haydon is still in the coronary care unit, recovering from the Feb. 17 implant of a Jarvik-7 mechanical pump.

The former auto assembly worker suffered a minor stroke 3 1/2 weeks ago but his wife, Juanita, said he is “even more alert now” than he was before it happened.

He is much more responsive to sounds and pays more attention to the equipment that powers the pump inside his chest, Mrs. Haydon said Thursday.

She said Haydon occasionally uses a respirator for an hour or so at a time but is no longer “nervous or scared about it.”

Memories of the congestive heart failure and lung problems he developed two years ago probably contributed to what implant surgeon William DeVries has called Haydon’s “psychological dependence” on the respirator.