Memorial Health System holds Heart Failure Patient reunion

It was a reunion of the hearts at one local hospital in Gulfport.

Memorial Health System held its heart recovery reunion for local heart failure patients treated at the hospital.

It was a chance for patients and members of their health care team to reconnect and celebrate their stories of heart recovery.

Guests in attendance listened to personal testimonies from heart recovery patients and their physicians.

Abiomed was also at the event highlight the impella heart pump. One survivor tells us how this advanced technology saved his life. Survivor Henry Canaan said, “You know the heart pumps like 2,000 gallons a day. So, it took over the job for that. I had to have on because I was near death. I was on respiratory twice. I ended up have a trach and without that impella, my heart wouldn’t have been able to rest. It lets your heart rest. I was at the point I couldn’t pump blood and pretty close to death.”

Clinical Outcomes and Projects Coordinators Brandy Williams said, “We are so fortunate that we have the technology of the impella device. It can pretty much pump a heart that is not beating and keep a person alive until their heart gets strong enough to beat on its own and do what it needs to do.”

Six heart failure patients were recognized today at the reunion.