Press Release:
Total Artificial Heart Recipient to Celebrate 2nd Anniversary
with Donor Heart By Riding with Team SynCardia in El Tour de Tucson
30-Year-Old Female Bridged-to-Transplant Thanksgiving 2007
Will Ride Alongside Cardiothoracic Surgeon Who Saved Her Life
Vanessa Cirillo received the Total Artificial Heart on Aug. 10, 2007. She was transplanted 106 days later, on Nov. 24, 2007, two days after Thanksgiving.
TUCSON, Ariz. – Nov. 18, 2009 – On Nov. 21, 30-year-old Vanessa Cirillo will celebrate her second anniversary of being bridged to heart transplant with the SynCardia temporary CardioWest™ Total Artificial Heart by riding in the 2009 El Tour de Tucson cycling race. She will ride as a member of Team SynCardia, alongside the world-renowned cardiothoracic surgeon that saved her life, Dr. Jack Copeland.
“I think the bike race is a great way to celebrate my new beginning,” said Cirillo. “You need to go through struggles and learn lessons to become a better person. Once you have that strength, you can give more to others. This race and helping raise awareness about organ donation allows me to do that.”
Cirillo suffered a heart attack in 2000, which developed into cardiomyopathy over the next seven years. In August 2007, Cirillo’s heart was no longer pumping enough blood to sustain her body. She was flown from a Las Vegas hospital to University Medical Center in Tucson, Arizona, and was implanted with the Total Artificial Heart the following day. She was transplanted 106 days later, two days after Thanksgiving.
Total Artificial Heart recipient Vanessa Cirillo is celebrating her second anniversary with her donor heart by riding in El Tour de Tucson with Team SynCardia.
After being discharged from the hospital with her new donor heart, Cirillo began volunteering with the Donor Network of Arizona. She, along with other transplant recipients and families of organ donors, provide information, answer questions and dispel myths about organ donation.
"Since I was little, I always knew I wanted to help people,” said Cirillo. “My experience being bridged-to-transplant with the Total Artificial Heart has lit the path in front of me.”
El Tour de Tucson will be Cirillo’s first cycling race. Her parents, Barbara and Umberto, are traveling from their home in Florida to cheer her on. Her sister Erica, who lives in Tucson, plans to throw a “Team Vanessa” party before the race.
Cirillo will race alongside other members of Team SynCardia, including SynCardia co-founders, Dr. Copeland and Dr. Marvin Slepian, as well as fellow Total Artificial Heart recipient and transplant games gold medalist, Bill Wohl.
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About SynCardia Systems, Inc.
SynCardia Systems, Inc. is the Tucson-based manufacturer of the world’s only FDA, Health Canada and CE approved Total Artificial Heart: the SynCardia temporary CardioWest™ Total Artificial Heart. There have been more than 800 implants of the Total Artificial Heart, accounting for more than 180 patient years of life on the device.
Originally used as a permanent replacement heart, the Total Artificial Heart is currently approved as a bridge to human heart transplant for people dying from end-stage biventricular failure. The Total Artificial Heart is the only device that provides immediate, safe blood flow of up to 9.5 L/min through both ventricles.
For additional information, please visit: http://www.syncardia.com
or follow SynCardia on Twitter – @SynCardia_News
Media Contact:
Don Isaacs
Vice President of Communications
SynCardia Systems, Inc.
Cell: (520) 955-0660
