Patient Story: Kevin Manion

Having been fairly healthy throughout his life, Kevin and his family faced increasing hardships after he experienced not one, but three heart attacks by age 57. After his fourth heart attack, Kevin came to Abbott Northwestern Hospital where he met Dr. Kasia Hryniewicz and learned just how damaged his heart had become.

Kevin’s fourth heart attack was the most serious kind, referred to as STEMI, and it left his heart damaged and unable to effectively pump blood throughout his body. He needed a left ventricular assist device (LVAD), a mechanical pump that is implanted inside the chest to help a weakened heart pump blood.

For one year Kevin’s LVAD worked well, but after catching an infection his only option left was waiting for a donor to receive a heart transplant. Kevin soon received a call from a research coordinator at the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation about a new research study for patients like him in need of a heart transplant.

“There was just never a question in my mind,” said Kevin. “Why wouldn’t I participate in research? I want to do something to help. I’m 57 now, so I’m at a stage in life where I’m looking to contribute in any way I can. I agreed wholeheartedly to participate.”

Nobody mentioned a timeline for the research study or how quickly a heart would become available for Kevin, but within a week he received the call that they’d found a heart and could proceed with the transplant.