Posted on Dec 3, 2017
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On December 3, 1967, 53-year-old Lewis Washkansky receives the first human heart transplant at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa.
Washkansky, a South African grocer dying from chronic heart disease, received the transplant from Denise Darvall, a 25-year-old woman who was fatally injured in a car accident. Surgeon Christiaan Barnard, who trained at the University of Cape Town and in the United States, performed the revolutionary medical operation. The technique Barnard employed had been initially developed by a group of American researchers in the 1950s. American surgeon Norman Shumway achieved the first successful heart transplant, in a dog, at Stanford University in California in 1958.
After Washkansky’s surgery, he was given drugs to suppress his immune system and keep his body from rejecting the heart. These drugs also left him susceptible to sickness, however, and 18 days later he died from double pneumonia. Despite the setback, Washkansky’s new heart had functioned normally until his death.
In the 1970s, the development of better anti-rejection drugs made transplantation more viable. Dr. Barnard continued to perform heart transplant operations, and by the late 1970s many of his patients were living up to five years with their new hearts. Successful heart transplant surgery continues to be performed today, but finding appropriate donors is extremely difficult.
Washkansky, a South African grocer dying from chronic heart disease, received the transplant from Denise Darvall, a 25-year-old woman who was fatally injured in a car accident. Surgeon Christiaan Barnard, who trained at the University of Cape Town and in the United States, performed the revolutionary medical operation. The technique Barnard employed had been initially developed by a group of American researchers in the 1950s. American surgeon Norman Shumway achieved the first successful heart transplant, in a dog, at Stanford University in California in 1958.
After Washkansky’s surgery, he was given drugs to suppress his immune system and keep his body from rejecting the heart. These drugs also left him susceptible to sickness, however, and 18 days later he died from double pneumonia. Despite the setback, Washkansky’s new heart had functioned normally until his death.
In the 1970s, the development of better anti-rejection drugs made transplantation more viable. Dr. Barnard continued to perform heart transplant operations, and by the late 1970s many of his patients were living up to five years with their new hearts. Successful heart transplant surgery continues to be performed today, but finding appropriate donors is extremely difficult.
First human heart transplant - Dec 03, 1967 - HISTORY.com
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Posted 7 y ago
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Thank you my friend TSgt Joe C. for reminding us that on December 3, 1967 53-year-old Lewis Washkansky received the first human heart transplant at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa. After Washkansky’s surgery, he was given drugs to suppress his immune system and keep his body from rejecting the heart. These drugs also left him susceptible to sickness, however, and 18 days later he died from double pneumonia.
In 1992 my father became the oldest person to receive a heart transplant. His operation was in the University of Pennsylvanian Hospital. He survived long enough to see three grandchildren grow into toddlers including one of my own sons. He enjoyed sitting on the couch while the children frolicked around him and cuddled up to him.
In May 1995 I was diagnosed with heart disease. That summer I compared noted with my dad and about our respective heart issued. I took notes for my natural sons so that they would have the medical background.
Image: 2007-12-2 Bernard J Ford image from University of Pennsylvania alcove in his honor; 2007-12-2 Bernard J Ford alcove image from University of Pennsylvania
On October 9, 1995 I spent time with my dad after visiting him for a couple days. That was my 39th birthday and I left after hugging him goodbye. I shared my faith with him as I had previously.
He died the following day. He had a heart attack with somebody else's heart.
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. LTC Wayne Brandon LTC Bill Koski Capt Seid Waddell Capt Tom Brown Maj Marty Hogan SFC William Farrell SSgt Robert Marx PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SPC Margaret Higgins MSgt Jason McClish AN Christopher Crayne SPC Tom DeSmet SGT Charles H. Hawes SGT (Join to see) SGT Michael Thorin SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth SP5 Robert Ruck
In 1992 my father became the oldest person to receive a heart transplant. His operation was in the University of Pennsylvanian Hospital. He survived long enough to see three grandchildren grow into toddlers including one of my own sons. He enjoyed sitting on the couch while the children frolicked around him and cuddled up to him.
In May 1995 I was diagnosed with heart disease. That summer I compared noted with my dad and about our respective heart issued. I took notes for my natural sons so that they would have the medical background.
Image: 2007-12-2 Bernard J Ford image from University of Pennsylvania alcove in his honor; 2007-12-2 Bernard J Ford alcove image from University of Pennsylvania
On October 9, 1995 I spent time with my dad after visiting him for a couple days. That was my 39th birthday and I left after hugging him goodbye. I shared my faith with him as I had previously.
He died the following day. He had a heart attack with somebody else's heart.
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. LTC Wayne Brandon LTC Bill Koski Capt Seid Waddell Capt Tom Brown Maj Marty Hogan SFC William Farrell SSgt Robert Marx PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SPC Margaret Higgins MSgt Jason McClish AN Christopher Crayne SPC Tom DeSmet SGT Charles H. Hawes SGT (Join to see) SGT Michael Thorin SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth SP5 Robert Ruck
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SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth
Thank you sir for your family story, and believe you have done the wise thing to record all medical information for your children.
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LTC Stephen F.
SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth - you are very welcome my friend. I highly recommend that we each let our descendants know about health issues we have that may be hereditary.
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL 1LT Sandy Annala Kim Bolen RN CCM ACM SGT Cynthia Barnard Cynthia Croft SGT Charles H. Hawes GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad CPT Jack Durish SGT Gregory Lawritson SrA Christopher W. SGT John " Mac " McConnell SP5 Mark Kuzinski LTC (Join to see)
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL 1LT Sandy Annala Kim Bolen RN CCM ACM SGT Cynthia Barnard Cynthia Croft SGT Charles H. Hawes GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad CPT Jack Durish SGT Gregory Lawritson SrA Christopher W. SGT John " Mac " McConnell SP5 Mark Kuzinski LTC (Join to see)
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SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth
LTC Stephen F. - My son knows about the health issues in our family and he has taken measures to help, plus his wife is a nurse.
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Thank you for the excellent share on the first heart transplant.
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