The Berlin Heart is a good device but for her, it would not work,- Kirklin said. -If she had another small or medium-size stroke, it might be devastating for a child who has already had one in the past month. That inspired us to look for other alternatives.Kirklin examined all the available options. Fortunately, a new, third-generation VAD Heartware is being reviewed by the FDA for approval as a bridge to transplant for adults and is in clinical trials at UAB as a permanent device for adults. UAB's institutional review board, the company that makes Heartware and the FDA all gave special permission for Greer to receive the pump, and she became the first child in the United States to be implanted with this device. It has been used three times in Europe in children.
For her, any other adult pump was not an option because she was too small, Kirklin said. This is the smallest pump available and was a perfect solution for her for medium-term support.
Greer, who received the Heartware VAD the first week of March, recovered amazing well from the stroke, her doctors say. The device enabled her to be weaned from all cardiac and respiratory support. She had just completed occupational and physical therapy at Children's Hospital for residual weakness from the stroke when a donor heart became available.
We got the call Saturday night, and Greer got her heart on Mother's Day, May 8, Dawn Underwood said. It all happened so fast, but we are so grateful for everything the doctors have done for us. We feel blessed.Greer and her family stayed in Birmingham until early June while she recovered. Now that they have returned home to Muscle Shoals, Greer is looking forward to one thing swimming in the family pool with her friends.
