Geary minister Troy Golden, 45, has become the first person in the region, and the second in the country, to receive a total artificial heart.
Golden and his family met with reporters Tuesday at Integris Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City.
Seated l-r: Troy Golden; his wife, Darla Golden; and his father, Billy Golden;
Standing l-r: Susan Golden, mother; Dr. James James Long, surgeon and co-director of the Integris Advanced Cardiac Care program; Laura Golden, 17, daughter, Dr. Doug Horstmanshof, surgeon and co-director of the Integris Advanced Cardiac Care program
Golden received his SynCardia Total Artificial Heart on Sept. 15. He's been on the heart transplant waiting list since January.
Surgeon Doug Horstmanshof says the device Golden received does the work of both sides of his heart.
(photo provided)
Once Golden leaves the hospital, his artificial heart will powered by the newly available 13.5-pound Freedom driver system. Until now, the only driver system available for transplant patients has been the 418-pound Big Blue.
(photo provided)
Patients supported by Big Blue have to stay in the hospital until they receive a heart transplant. With Freedom, some patients will be able to wait for a donor heart at home.
The Freedom driver is powered by two onboard rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. A patient can carry it in a Freedom backback or shoulder bag, and its batteries can be recharged with a standard electrical outlet and a car charger.
Golden and his family met with reporters Tuesday at Integris Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City.
Seated l-r: Troy Golden; his wife, Darla Golden; and his father, Billy Golden;
Standing l-r: Susan Golden, mother; Dr. James James Long, surgeon and co-director of the Integris Advanced Cardiac Care program; Laura Golden, 17, daughter, Dr. Doug Horstmanshof, surgeon and co-director of the Integris Advanced Cardiac Care program
Golden received his SynCardia Total Artificial Heart on Sept. 15. He's been on the heart transplant waiting list since January.
Surgeon Doug Horstmanshof says the device Golden received does the work of both sides of his heart.
(photo provided)
Once Golden leaves the hospital, his artificial heart will powered by the newly available 13.5-pound Freedom driver system. Until now, the only driver system available for transplant patients has been the 418-pound Big Blue.
(photo provided)
Patients supported by Big Blue have to stay in the hospital until they receive a heart transplant. With Freedom, some patients will be able to wait for a donor heart at home.
The Freedom driver is powered by two onboard rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. A patient can carry it in a Freedom backback or shoulder bag, and its batteries can be recharged with a standard electrical outlet and a car charger.
