Sort of O/T Dick Cheney has heart transplant surgery

[DavesMom]

Just read that the former vice president had a heart transplant. I am not a fan of his politics but I certainly wish him the very best for a full and speedy recovery. Valve replacement is bad enough but I can honestly think of nothing scarier than a transplant.

Best wishes to you and your family, Mr. Cheney. Get well soon.

 

[Julian]

Flippin, amazing. I just seen this too. He was on that LVAD for awhile. What is the life expectancy for someone with a heart transplant, I read numbers from 5 years to 30 years + Anyway I want to hear the interview afterward.

 

[SusQ]

One of my former bosses friend's had a heart transplant back in 1988. He just passed away a few months ago, but it wasn't due to his heart.

 

[swim mom]

I have a friend whose brother-in-law had a heart transplant last year. She said she has never seen him so healthy! Before he was on oxygen and mostly in a wheelchair, now he runs and keeps up with her kids better than she does!

 

[Ovie]

His politics were sadistic, He's a horrible human being. That being said, I can't imagine undergoing such a surgery, quite the procedure. I hope all goes well, for his FAMILY'S sake.

 

[OldManEmu]

I am amazed that he got a heart transplant, he is 71 years old. Isn't there an upper age limit for transplants in the US?

 

[Superbob]

As to whether Cheney was "too old" to have a heart transplant, I invite attention to the comments of an eminent heart specialist in the bottom half of this article who says no he was not too old:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/24/dick-cheney-heart-transplant_n_137

Being close to the same age as Cheney, I am sensitive to the notion that some sort of rationing system should exclude people from lifesaving procedures because of an arbitrary age limit. I am trying very hard here not to get "political" on this point.

This is also personal to me because (among other reasons) I had my aortic root/valve replacement 7 years ago at the very same heart center -- Inova Fairfax in Northern Virginia. They have an absolutely wonderful team of surgeons and nurses there.

I am praying for Mr. Cheney, his wife Lynne, and family and friends for a good recovery. I hope he can do extensive interviews soon to further inform us on issues that are close to our hearts (no pun intended).

 

[Duffey]

I am amazed that he got a heart transplant, he is 71 years old. Isn't there an upper age limit for transplants in the US?

I had similar thoughts particularly since one of our own former VR member, 19 years old I believe, is waiting for a new heart.
I saw a news program this morning that said 71 was the "upper limits" for being considered for a transplant, but if overall health is good, then it was possible.
I hope he does well and fully recovers. If he doesn't, it's a waste of a donated heart if nothing else.
My other thought . . . If it were me, I would hope I would be at a point in my life where I would be willing to let go and not push for a transplant. Just my opinion.

 

[Superbob]

FYI,

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/Press_releases/2006/09_15a_06.html

Life is precious. Seniors continue to be contributing members of society. Just my opinion.

 

[ShezaGirlie]

Happy Healing to Mr. Dick..

Happy Healing to Mr. Dick..

I wonder if his 'forever free medical care for working 8 short years' for our government paid for his heart transplant or did our Medicare government program pay for it? Either way, ain't 'socialized medical care' grand..!! :biggrin2:

 

[dcc617]

My uncle's heart turned to paper. He was advised to stop smoking, stop drinking and lose weight. He followed the Drs' orders and had a heart transplant. Then, after he recovered, he started smoking, drinking and eating again. Guess what? He dropped dead from heart failure.

I say nothing about Cheney having a heart transplant. It makes too many assumptions.

 

[Bean Counter]

Flippin, amazing. I just seen this too. He was on that LVAD for awhile. What is the life expectancy for someone with a heart transplant, I read numbers from 5 years to 30 years + Anyway I want to hear the interview afterward.

I saw a news program this morning that threw out some statistics....88% survive 1 year, something like 75% make it to 5 year mark and about 50% make it to the 10 year mark.

 

[Jkm7]

I had similar thoughts particularly since one of our own former VR member, 19 years old I believe, is waiting for a new heart.
I saw a news program this morning that said 71 was the "upper limits" for being considered for a transplant, but if overall health is good, then it was possible.
I hope he does well and fully recovers. If he doesn't, it's a waste of a donated heart if nothing else.
My other thought . . . If it were me, I would hope I would be at a point in my life where I would be willing to let go and not push for a transplant. Just my opinion.

One has to think about compatability.
Perhaps the young 19 year old is not compatable with the donor?

Not just anyone can have just any organ transplanted into them.

Forgetting the politics entirely and not saying whether I approve or not, I think it worthy to remember he was elected to the Office of Vice President of the United States and served in that office for 8 years. Whether an individual respects the work he personally did, as a U.S. citizen and voter, I feel we owe respect to the office. He served his country whether one likes what he did or not. He should not be denied the organ because some folks may not like his politics.

IMO

 

[Jkm7]

I wonder if his 'forever free medical care for working 8 short years' for our government paid for his heart transplant or did our Medicare government program pay for it? Either way, ain't 'socialized medical care' grand..!! :biggrin2:

Is it out of the question he paid for his own medical costs? He is a wealthy man and may choose to pay the bills himself just to avoid all these slings and arrows pointed at him.

I hate to play defender for him or for any politician but I have always been 'accused' of being a very fair person. Fair and honest to a fault and I always try to find the 'fair argument'. If Medicare paid, he is no less worthy than any other U.S. taxpayer to be provided care under Medicare. He paid what taxes he owed through all his working years and earned the benefit of Medicare by meeting all the terms required.

He should not be denied benefits for any reason yet given IMO
He didn't work ONLY 8 short years for our government.... he worked and paid taxes his whole adult life.

 

[Wise]

I wish the best to Dick Cheney and may he have many more productive years

 

[Luana]

I wonder if his 'forever free medical care for working 8 short years' for our government paid for his heart transplant or did our Medicare government program pay for it? Either way, ain't 'socialized medical care' grand..!! :biggrin2:

In 1978 Cheney was elected as a congressman from Wyoming and was reelected 5 times. He was Secretary of Defense for George H W Bush from 1989-1993, which, along with the 8 years of being vice president, amounts to 23 years.

 

[Duffey]

One has to think about compatability.
Perhaps the young 19 year old is not compatable with the donor?

Not just anyone can have just any organ transplanted into them.

Forgetting the politics entirely and not saying whether I approve or not, I think it worthy to remember he was elected to the Office of Vice President of the United States and served in that office for 8 years. Whether an individual respects the work he personally did, as a U.S. citizen and voter, I feel we owe respect to the office. He served his country whether one likes what he did or not. He should not be denied the organ because some folks may not like his politics.

IMO

I don't think compatability is what's holding Andrew's transplant up. I believe it's availability. I do hope Dick Cheney does well with the new heart. I can't imagine anyone who has been through valve replacement not wishing the best for another person undergoing a much more complicated heart surgery.
After I wrote this reply, I received an email notification that Andrew's mother had written about the transplant. Here's what she says:

last night I learned that Dick Cheney had received a heart transplant. I pray he does well and that his recovery goes smoothly. He has had several surgeries to help his heart, some of which Andrew has followed in his path. Like Cheney, Andrew received an ICD to keep his heart from having a fatal arythmia. He also has an LVAD implanted to help his failing heart circulate blood through his body. And we hope that this next accomplishment of Mr Cheney's will also Andrew be in Andrew's future. So when you hear or think about Cheney's recovery, pray that he does well and ask that Andrew will soon be following in his footsteps once again. Thanks! Here is a link to the story

 

[Jkm7]

Of course, there most likely is not a person here who does not want for Andrew to receive a heart tonight.... right now!!!!

But my point was, do we have any way to know if the heart that went to Dick Cheney could have gone to Andrew or another young person like him? Don't organs have to match blood type and whatever other markers that matter. It is all beyond my limited knowledge of such things.

But to say Dick Cheney denied 'an' Andrew their heart is a stretch IMO

NOT that I am necessarily a fan of Dick Cheney,,,,, or not a fan. To me, that isn't relevant in this conversation.

There cannot possibly be any decent person who does not have all hopes for all who are awaiting life saving organs to not get them sooner rather than later.
I hope I have expressed myself clearly. Seems I sometimes fail to do that.

 

[OldManEmu]

Superbob
My comment and question were in terms of prioritisation when the average life expectancy for males in the US is 75.6 years and Dick Cheney is 71 years.
To my knowledge the US is like other countries and there are always more people waiting for organs than there are donations available leading to inevitable prioritisation.
Likely life expectancy post procedure must be one of the criteria that are used in these situations.
This has nothing to do with medical procedures like valve replacements were there is an infinite availability of valves or procedures requiring other prosthetics.

 

[Ovie]

It's not out of the question that he paid for his own transplant, but let's be real..that's most likely not the case.