A North Carolina father is celebrating a new lease on life after becoming the second person in the world to receive a titanium heart at Duke Hospital. This innovative device, developed by BiVACOR, offers new hope for those awaiting heart transplants.
Donavon Harbison, a 35-year-old teacher and father, initially thought he had pneumonia when he was hospitalized earlier this year. Instead, doctors diagnosed him with severe heart failure. His condition worsened rapidly, with his heartbeats growing weaker and fluid accumulating in his lungs. “It was scary,” Harbison said. “Heart failure means death.” His doctors informed him that a heart transplant was his only chance for survival.
Dr. Adam DeVore, a surgeon at Duke, explained that Harbison required extensive support. Within weeks, he transitioned to pumps that were insufficient for his needs. Currently, over 4,000 patients are on the heart transplant list in the U.S., but there are far fewer available organs.
Patients often wait months or even years for a transplant.
While waiting for a suitable heart, patients typically receive temporary devices to manage heart failure. However, these devices can be bulky and may not work for everyone. In Harbison’s case, doctors opted for an experimental titanium artificial heart powered by magnets.
The device was invented by Daniel Timms, who explained the procedure: “Their natural heart will be removed, and then the device will be attached through these connections to the remnant parts of the heart.” The grafts are then stitched to the remaining vessels, including the aorta and pulmonary artery. Dr. Carmelo Milano, another Duke surgeon involved in the operation, noted that the device quickly restored normal blood circulation and pressure.
In August, a team of surgeons spent four hours implanting the device into Harbison. Video footage captured his first moments standing with the titanium heart. “It was definitely heavier because you don’t normally feel your heart,” he remarked.
Harbison’s journey has been transformative; he is now just the second person globally to receive this advanced technology.
“I’m like, ‘OK, I am going to be Tony Stark,'” he joked, referring to the superhero known for his high-tech suit.
Remarkably, within days of receiving the device, Harbison regained enough strength to qualify for a heart transplant. He looks forward to watching his children grow and welcoming his fourth child soon. When asked if he believed the device saved his life, he confidently replied, “Yes, without a doubt.”
This pioneering procedure not only offers hope to Harbison but also represents a significant advancement in medical technology for countless others facing similar challenges in their battle against heart failure.
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