Former Vice President Dick Cheney was released from a Virginia hospital today after receiving a heart transplant 10 days ago, according to a statement from his spokeswoman. His eldest daughter, Liz, tweeted the above picture of her dad and her mom, Lynne, captioned with one simple word: “Home.”
The 71-year-old, who’s had a long history of cardiovascular trouble, received the heart from an anonymous donor after being on a cardiac transplant list for more than 20 months. He suffered the first of five heart attacks at the ripe age of 37.
In July 2010, Cheney had a left ventricular assist device — a small battery-powered pump — implanted to help keep his weakened heart beating while awaiting a transplant. His doctor, Jonathan S. Reiner, told the New York Times that he was living successfully with the mechanical device and there was no immediate reason to decide on a transplant, though other factors helped Cheney make the decision, like the risk of infection and stroke.
“As he leaves the hospital, the former vice president and his family want to again express their deep gratitude to the donor and the donor’s family for this remarkable gift,” Cheney’s spokeswoman said.
John Yuro Recommended
