HEART TRANSPLANT
For two weeks, while Bryan was resting in a
medically-induced coma, heart specialists at
Baylor Dallas tried to revive the left side of his
heart, but it was too damaged. On Jan. 15,
his heart was removed, and he woke up two
days later to the news that an artificial heart was
keeping him alive. He was eventually transitioned
to the SynCardia Total Artificial Heart Freedom
driver, a 13.5-pound portable unit that powered
his artificial heart. He lived with the artificial heart
for about two months, until he received a donor
heart on Feb. 29.
“It took me a while to wrap my head around the
reality that I was on an artificial heart,” Bryan
said. “One of my nurses told me that to make it
through the journey, I had to get my head right
and stay positive. That’s what I committed to,
and that’s why I’m here today.”
For 70 days, Bryan was hospitalized at Baylor
Dallas and housed at the Twice Blessed House,
temporary housing for transplant patients on
the Baylor Dallas campus. Throughout his
hospitalization and recovery, his wife, Risa,
was at his side. Today, he is back at the gym
with his trainer and playing golf with Risa
and his family and friends.
“The artificial heart technology saved my life,”
Bryan says. “It was a bridge that gave me a second
chance. Thanks to the expertise, kindness and
compassion of my entire team of caregivers,
my experience was second to none. The Baylor
team is on the cutting edge of technology, and
that’s demonstrated by the continuity of heart
care throughout the Baylor Scott & White Health
system. My surgeon asked me to do him one
favor: to live my life as a human being, not as a
transplant patient, and that’s what I’m doing.”
32
JOHANNES J. KUIPER, MD
April 18, 1966 – April 25, 2016
Medical staff member: 1998-2016
Medial Director, Outreach Center for Heart
Disease and Transplant – Baylor Dallas
The teams at Baylor Jack and Jane Hamilton
Heart and Vascular Hospital and Baylor Dallas
mourn the loss of Dr. Kuiper in 2016.
A much-loved medical staff member since 1998,
Dr. Kuiper was instrumental in developing the
advanced heart failure program.
During his distinguished career at Baylor Dallas,
Dr. Kuiper touched the hearts and lives of many
patients, families and staff. He was known for the
compassionate care he provided his patients and
for his fun-loving spirit. Dr. Kuiper’s passions
included nature and international travel.
He is deeply missed by his Baylor Dallas family.