.
Meet Rob Montgomery
Rob had his LVAD implanted on May 12th, 2014. At the age of 42, having lived with Viral Cardiomyopathy and CHF for 12 years he said I was feeling sick every day, From the time I was thirty years old my heart was getting weaker and life looking dimmer. I had to find a way to get better. I am married and we have two young kids
Rob remembers noticing swelling in his ankles and abdomin "One of the first things I saw was that my legs and ankles would have indents where my sock line sat". Plus I had to stop to catch my breath whenever I did the simplest activities . I was not used to this. Just a few years earlier I was stationed with the U.S. Navy as a F-14 A Qualified Plane Captain (1990-1994), Operation Desert Storm with VF-114, Operation Fiery Vigil and later Aviation Ordnanceman.
Rob recalls in July 2001 I was hospitalized for Pneumonia. That's when I had my first echocardiogram. Thet told me the results were abnormal and hooked me up with a Cardiologist. January 2002 was when I was diagnosed with Viral Cardiomyopathy and CHF. I had 40 pounds of fluid built up and was extremely short of breath. I was very sick every morning.
The virus caused his heart to become so large the function wasn't enough to allow his kideys to work. Dr Santosh Menon of Ohio Heart in Cincinnati, Ohio, suggested I research and consider the LVAD.
I had never heard of a LVAD before. After reading and seeing pictures of the Heartmate 2 by Thoratec, I was on the fence about it. Last thing I wanted was to look like a freak and always answer questions about it.
A Truly Bionic U.S. Navy Man
Rob and Melinda Montgomery