Man Recovers After 555 Days With a Backpack Artificial Heart

Stan Larkin, a 25-year-old man, has made a full recovery after receiving a heart transplant earlier this year. He previously lived for 555 days with an artificial heart carried in a backpack. His story highlights the challenges faced by those with serious heart conditions. Stan Larkin was diagnosed with familial cardiomyopathy, a genetic heart disease. Both he and his brother, Dominique, received artificial hearts to sustain them while waiting for donors. The device, called a SynCardia, weighs 13.5 pounds and kept them alive until a suitable heart became available.

Dominique used the artificial heart for only a few weeks before finding a donor. Stan, however, relied on his for over a year and a half. During this time, he even managed to play basketball while carrying the device in his backpack.

In May, Stan finally received a donor heart. The transplant procedure was successful, and he has since fully recovered. Stan Larkin no longer needs the artificial heart. His recovery allows him to move forward without the device that supported him for so long. The transplant marks the end of a difficult but remarkable journey.