Amy's Blog

Surviving and Thriving

    I remember reporting on a woman who had a heart transplant more than 20 years ago when I was beginning my medical reporting career that started in Ohio.I hope as I write this, she is still alive and doing well, like Jan Vaughn, who celebrated 25 years with her new heart recently.  Jan's picture and story was in the Tennessean last week. It showed her surrounded by her nurses and transplant surgeon, Dr. David Glassford during a luncheon marking the anniversary of heart transplants at Saint Thomas on Sept. 7th. What a story Jan has to share. She's now 66, but probably had many moments of doubt she'd ever see this age back when her heart problems surfaced.  While pregnant with her only daughter, Jan developed cardiomyopathy, a degenerative disease of the heart muscle.  She spent ten years on steroids .  After a heart attack on Thanksgiving, doctors told her she would need a new heart to survive. Jan became Tennessee's first female heart transplant recipient on Sept. 7th, 1985, receiving a donor heart from a 19 year old Cookeville father. Within three months, the homemaker was volunteering at Glenview Elementary, walking three miles, and driving!

   Over the past four decades, Saint Thomas has become a regional destination for Middle Tennessee residents with heart related illnesses.  Dr. E. Dale Batchelor, Saint Thomas Hospital CEO says "Saint Thomas Hospital is a pioneer in heart transplantation."  The hospital does 12 to 20 heart transplants each year. What used to take months now takes less than two weeks when it comes to the recovery process. That's according to Heather Marshall, the hospital's transplant program coordinator.  Isn't that amazing???  The average time a patient stays in the hospital after a heart transplant is just eleven days!

   So what can you do to stay heart healthy?  One thing is being active.  The state is really pushing this message too. Our health commissioner, Susan R. Cooper, MSN,RN. says, "Our message to Tennesseans is to start where you are to begin your personal journey toward better health and fitness.  Everyone doesn't have to be a marathon runner; your journey may start with just walking around the block, or taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Just set a goal to move a bit more every day and look for ways to increase your activity level."

  With that in mind, don't forget the Start! Nashville Heart Walk, Oct. 2nd at Vanderbilt University, 8 am.  For more info;  http://www.nashvilleheartwalk.org!

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