PERTH, Australia: Claremont resident Rod Hickling will celebrate...

PERTH, Australia: Claremont resident Rod Hickling will celebrate a new
lease of life by taking part in this year's City to Surf, (

http://citytosurf.activ.asn.au ; )
despite undergoing life-saving heart surgery just eight months ago.

Mr Hickling suffers from cardiomyopathy and was fitted with a
VentrAssist artificial heart device last December. He struggled with his
health for almost 10 years and without the life-saving surgery, the
59-year-old would soon have succumbed to the degenerative heart
complaint.

Cardiothoracic surgeons at Royal Perth Hospital implanted the artificial
heart device into Mr Hickling's left ribcage, from where it connects as
a separate pump to his heart and aorta.

The pump uses a spinning, pumping system designed to provide support for
a weakened heart and allow the patient to grow stronger and able to
survive the necessary heart transplant operation.



Mr Hickling's natural heart remains in place while the artificial heart
takes over much of the pumping as he needs to carry out his daily
activities.



The titanium alloy device weighs just 298g and Mr Hickling carries a low
weight controller and a backpack with him wherever he goes.



He will of course be carrying the controller with him around the City to
Surf course but he says it is a small price to pay for getting his life
back.



"I've gone from not caring whether I lived or died to looking forward to
a new life," he said.



"The last six months of last year I felt so sick, I had no energy to do
anything.



"As soon as I had my operation I could feel all my body functions
getting better - I got my blood flow back and I wasn't feeling dizzy any
more. I trust the pump completely."



With the pump Mr Hickling attends the cardiac gym at Royal Perth and has
trained under the care of the cardiac transplant team. [ends]



This story appeared in the Perth Western Suburbs Weekly. It is and is
redistributed for the information of shareholders and people who request
updates from Ventracor via our website.







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