- First of all, I'm no longer waterproof,
so I can't go swimming anymore, which is one of my loves.
(upbeat music)
Hi, I'm Hortencia Wagner
and I'm here to tell you what it's like to live
with an LVAD or left ventricle assistive device,
which is this machine.
What is an LVAD?
LVAD is a device that will be, is installed
it's like a turbo that gets installed
right underneath the heart on the left,
and then there's a cable that goes from there
all the way to the side,
and then it exits on the side.
What it was like to being diagnosed with heart failure?
That was not something that I was looking forward to,
2007 or 2008,
I went through breast cancer
and the chemotherapy that I received,
one of the side effects had to do with heart damage.
I never thought I would get that
because I was a very active person
but here I am, heart-failure 2013.
Slowly my heart started going
very very slowly to the point where the very end
before I got this device,
it was functioning at, I believe 13%,
which made it very difficult to walk
or carry on with the daily life.
If it wasn't for Dr. Kim,
I would not be here.
He was ready to send me to hospice.
I was, I had two weeks to two months left
and you know what?
I wasn't afraid.
That is one of the main reasons
why people don't make right decisions
because they are afraid.
I wasn't afraid.
I was just looking for the best solution.
What is it like to have an LVAD, life-changing.
First of all I'm no longer waterproof.
So I can't go swimming anymore, which is one of my loves.
But you know what?
When the time comes to let go
of the things you can no longer do,
it's time to start looking for something you can do.
Something you can focus on doing and it's an adventure.
What should people know about receiving
care at UCSD Health?
I cannot tell you
how immensely blessed I have been to have found
this doctors and this team of doctors, nurses,
a facility, somebody that has the knowledge
and compassion and love for people,
and they don't just don't give up,
and they never gave up on me,
because I was about to say, Hey, you know what?
We all have a time to be born and a time to die,
and this is my time to die,
I'll be happy to go.
But thank you Dr. Kim,
that you would not listen to me.
(laughs)
Thank you so, so much.
What is it like to wear the battery pack,
and how often do I switch it out?
Wearing a battery pack took a lot of use to it.
It was heavy at the very beginning,
neck aches, shoulder pain,
but like with everything else, you get used to it.
Now it's just like a second.
It's just thing that I do,
is like breathing is like walking.
You don't think about it.
You just do the things that you need to do.
How has LVAD changed the way I dress?
When I was told
just wear loose clothing.
I just, I couldn't imagine what kind of loose clothing,
but I found out that with a good seamstress
you can adjust all of your clothing
and you can just put a slit
to where the cable comes out,
and if you wear a beautiful backpack,
Hey, you're styling.
(laughs)
Nobody notices that you have any kind of disability,
any kind of special needs,
and for me, if they notice is fine,
I'm happy to answer any questions they may have
but if they don't notice, Hey, that's fine too.
Is it safe to travel?
I've heard that some people
have never had a problem traveling.
They take cruises, they fly.
However, I have only taken road trips
and it has never been difficult.
As long as there's a wall I can plug into,
and I can recharge my batteries
I'm okay,
and everybody's very very kind and helpful,
especially when you go through places,
where backpacks need to be opened and searched,
they go, Oh and I go, well,
they go, can you please put your backpack here?
I said I can't, I'm attached to it.
(laughs)
This is why attached to it.
So this carries my heart and I'm okay with it,
and they just don't know how to handle it.
Will I need a heart transplant?
That has been advised by my doctors.
However, I don't think I would go for it.
It has not entered into my consciousness
to have a heart from another person inside of me.
So I understand, and I have met people that have had heart,
heart transplants, and they are very lively,
happy people, but I'm lively and happy with the LVAD.
What do my children think of my LVAD?
Oh my goodness.
They are so happy to have mom.
(laughs)
I have two boys
and my oldest one is about to become a father
of another boy.
So I'm still looking forward to this next stage,
which would be grandparenting.
Oh, thank you LVAD,
Thank you doctors from UCSD Medical,
I love you all, thank you.
What would I say to others
who may be in the same position as I am?
I can tell you that,
there is life at the other end of heart failure.
If you have a reason to still be in this planet,
there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Please consider this,
count your blessings,
and if you do decide to go through this,
it's really life-changing, but it's doable.
I see myself as the new me,
the old me just to do things differently
but the new me is doing things differently,
rediscovering life every day.
I do hope that you will rediscover life
and that you would be with a good team,
Like my team.
All of the doctors at UCSD Medical are,
they're all professionals, they're are beautiful.
The nurses, they are so compassionate and so lovely,
and I just, I'm very, very grateful for everyone.
Thank you.
(upbeat music)