Joanne was 82 years old when she was told she had advanced heart failure.

“In general, heart failure is a terminal disease, and it takes its toll on the patient,” says a cardiothoracic surgeon at Piedmont.

To prolong Joanne’s life, doctors implanted a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) to simulate the normal pumping function of her heart.

“It’s long-term therapy for her, because she’s not a transplant candidate. This pump is the equivalent of doing a heart transplant.”

A grateful heart

“LVAD has worked for me,” Joanne says. “I feel extremely grateful for these last four years.  I have four children, eight grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.  And there have been so many good things that I’ve lived to see that I might not have otherwise.”

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