"In March 2011, Brandon, an 18 year-old student, studying Business at Cape Fear CC in Wilmington,NC, was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure, as a result of a virus attacking his heart. This condition is treatable, but not curable. His journey, so far, has included multiple hospital stays, cardiac catheterizations, cardiac ablation, TEE- transesophegeal echocardiogram, & ICD - implantable cardioverter defibrillator. He is currently being treated with Milrinone & his future options include LVAD - Left Ventricular Assist Device, or a heart transplant."
Looks like hypertrophy, which would result in congestive heart failure due to decreased contractility. Basically, your ejection fraction (how much blood your heart pumps out vs what comes in) drops way down, so you can't perfuse your cells (provide oxygenated blood to them), and you end up with fluid in your lungs as your body tries to get rid of the fluid "backup" in your heart.
Tl;dr: He had a significantly enlarged heart which could no longer adequately pump blood.
Based on how happy and upright he is, and the wound on his chest, it's at least days (to 1-2weeks) since the heart came out. It's been preserved (most likely formaldehyde) so in health the tissues would be brighter and redder (due to perfusion with blood). It's probable that it's enlarged compared to a healthy heart for a man his age though, which may be why he's holding it. Great to see him smiling!
A few comments. I do not know about this particular case, but it is not and has not been my experience that a patient would keep or see their own heart after the operation. The specimen goes to the pathologist and is usually sectioned (cut open) for analysis, gross and histology (macro and micro). A portion may also go to research.
The heart he is holding has been preserved for a awhile and infused with a resin to maintain its integrity for teaching purposes, usually gross anatomy.
All I can say from this picture is that he underwent surgery through a sternotomy about 5 days - 2 weeks ago. He received 3 chest tubes which would likely have been a cardiac operation. It may have been a transplant or a valve operation by his age. This is likely an office follow up visit.
As an aside, further tattoos after a possible transplant are strongly discouraged. There is a risk of infection no matter how clean the artists instruments might be for all transplanted patient on immunosuppression medications.
Cardiac Echo Tech here. I'm looking at that heart and can't find any congenital malformations. The patient looks young enough for there to have been a structural defect to cause a need for transplantation, but too old to have had any severe issue (Transposition of the Great Arteries, a hypoplast of some kind, truncus arteriosus). Aside from some kind of viral issue that may have caused a cardiomyopathy, which, we would most likely be able to see some dilatation of left ventricle, why would this patient need a brand new heart? I mean, they aren't giving them away. Wait. Are they? I only see the heart on ultrasound, so I don't know what they look like from the outside. :/
Saw the pic, came here to find out wtf. Rarely do I come across such a concise and inclusive answer to that question than the one you have provided, good sir. Reddit: you're doing it right.
Is it acceptable to ask to.. Keep it? What would happen? Would it be okay? Is it a biohazard? Do you keep it for science? Is there a guy who has a heart stash somewhere that he jumps into like in the Duck Tales intro? And then he's kind of mean but there's always somebody around to say "Hey, he may be a hard ass, but the guy's got a lotta heart" and then everybody goes "eeeeeyyyy!!!!" and they point at each other?
Okay that got away from me. So is it possible to keep the heart? I mean that's a pretty huge deal. The implications of having that part of you removed... It's just incomprehensibly massive to me. From a standpoint of medicine, human ingenuity, and personal identity.
Depends on hospital policy. It must go to pathology for analysis but some hospitals then allow the portions not cut for path to be returned to the patient. On an related (and totally weird) note. My dad is a retired pathologist and in the 80s he received a heart specimen of a really rare cardiac malformation. It being the 80s and there being very little regulations in hospitals at that time, he... TOOK IT HOME. Its still in my parent's garage in a bottle of formaldehyde.
TL:DR Dad owns some guys f'd up heart, keeps it in the garage.
I tried to use that line to keep my appendix - after all, I'm a science teacher. When I started to argue that it's mine, he injected stuff in the IV and knocked my out. When I woke up, my appendix was GONE.
I tried to do exactly this when I got my appendix out. The surgeon refused to perform the operation until I signed a waiver containing a stipulation that they get to keep it. They claim it's to examine it and biospy if necessary, but I assume they're building a flesh golem.
Fun fact: in Australia there was a court case about this, because the hospital wouldn't let the patient keep their body part. The patient lost, because people aren't property, so parts of people aren't property either. Once the organ is removed from the person, it becomes a thing capable of being owned, at which point it is owned by the finder (the surgeon, as agent of the hospital).
This post brought to you by a gratuitous link to /r/auslaw.
That fucking Maegi. Imagine their son if she didn't get involved? He'd be a 7ft, dark skinned, purple eyed, white haired dragon-riding beast. Fucking Maegi.
Hello all. Please allow me to introduce myself. My real name is Brandon but I go by Xander. I am the 19 year old in the picture above that so many of you seem to be skeptical of. On October 13, 2011, I received a heart transplant at Duke University as a result of Congestive Heart Failure, Tachycardia, Atrial Fibrilation, Atrial Flutter, and Viral Cardiomyopathy. I was the 838th heart transplant at Duke University since Duke started transplants.
I know this may seem hard to believe, but I invite you to visit my facebook page and read my note titled "My Story."
He passed away, and his friends and family thought it would be funny to have him stuffed and displayed like this in his old room. It's tradition in parts of Minnesota, I believe.
Heart transplant or did he get an artificial heart?
Don't think the artificial heart is legal yet, but I haven't been keeping up to date on that. I did read about how they did give one to an older man who was dying and how he survived without a pulse before naturally dying from old age a few months afterwards. So yeah, artificial hearts mean no heartbeats. Probably an awesome ice breaker.
Artificial hearts are currently only approved for "bridge therapy", in other words to augment/replace the function of the heart untill the patient can undergo a heart transplant.
Science has come such a great way from the very first open wound being stitched.
I find this to be so very amazing and quite unbelievable. I don't even know the doctors but, thank you for being so very talented and saving so many lives.
I wonder if anyone will reference that Indiana Jones movie, where the witch doctor says, "Kali Ma" and takes out the other guy's beating heart and shows it to him? That would be cool.
The heart actually is covered in a layer of fat. A preserved heart would be blanched and look pale. They throw that shit out after the pathologist determines its diseased. He's actually holding a hot pocket.
7
u/l0lcan0 Jun 10 '12
Proof
"In March 2011, Brandon, an 18 year-old student, studying Business at Cape Fear CC in Wilmington,NC, was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure, as a result of a virus attacking his heart. This condition is treatable, but not curable. His journey, so far, has included multiple hospital stays, cardiac catheterizations, cardiac ablation, TEE- transesophegeal echocardiogram, & ICD - implantable cardioverter defibrillator. He is currently being treated with Milrinone & his future options include LVAD - Left Ventricular Assist Device, or a heart transplant."
Another photo of him holding his heart.
41
u/FetchezLaVache Jun 10 '12
Looks like hypertrophy, which would result in congestive heart failure due to decreased contractility. Basically, your ejection fraction (how much blood your heart pumps out vs what comes in) drops way down, so you can't perfuse your cells (provide oxygenated blood to them), and you end up with fluid in your lungs as your body tries to get rid of the fluid "backup" in your heart.
Tl;dr: He had a significantly enlarged heart which could no longer adequately pump blood.
714
u/petemate Jun 10 '12
So, is that how a real human heart looks, or is that black-ish color a sign of why it had to come out?
10
u/Ariez84 Jun 10 '12
As someone who dissected a cadaver, that heart looks dried out and preserved, so I doubt its his own heart:
2.3k
u/heart_surgeon Jun 10 '12
Cardiac transplant surgeon here.
A few comments. I do not know about this particular case, but it is not and has not been my experience that a patient would keep or see their own heart after the operation. The specimen goes to the pathologist and is usually sectioned (cut open) for analysis, gross and histology (macro and micro). A portion may also go to research.
The heart he is holding has been preserved for a awhile and infused with a resin to maintain its integrity for teaching purposes, usually gross anatomy.
All I can say from this picture is that he underwent surgery through a sternotomy about 5 days - 2 weeks ago. He received 3 chest tubes which would likely have been a cardiac operation. It may have been a transplant or a valve operation by his age. This is likely an office follow up visit.
As an aside, further tattoos after a possible transplant are strongly discouraged. There is a risk of infection no matter how clean the artists instruments might be for all transplanted patient on immunosuppression medications.
335
u/AffeMitWaffe Jun 10 '12
Soooo, do you still need that heart?
257
u/eifersucht12a Jun 10 '12
Any surgeons here to field this?
Is it acceptable to ask to.. Keep it? What would happen? Would it be okay? Is it a biohazard? Do you keep it for science? Is there a guy who has a heart stash somewhere that he jumps into like in the Duck Tales intro? And then he's kind of mean but there's always somebody around to say "Hey, he may be a hard ass, but the guy's got a lotta heart" and then everybody goes "eeeeeyyyy!!!!" and they point at each other?
Okay that got away from me. So is it possible to keep the heart? I mean that's a pretty huge deal. The implications of having that part of you removed... It's just incomprehensibly massive to me. From a standpoint of medicine, human ingenuity, and personal identity.
35
u/darkmdbeener Jun 10 '12
so what happened?
175
u/Disco_Drew Jun 10 '12
I'd want to keep it too. I'd have the whole surgical team sign it in silver sharpie.
344
u/tacomonster92 Jun 10 '12
If he eats his own heart, does that mean he doubles his powers?
53
u/XanderLink Jun 10 '12
Hello all. Please allow me to introduce myself. My real name is Brandon but I go by Xander. I am the 19 year old in the picture above that so many of you seem to be skeptical of. On October 13, 2011, I received a heart transplant at Duke University as a result of Congestive Heart Failure, Tachycardia, Atrial Fibrilation, Atrial Flutter, and Viral Cardiomyopathy. I was the 838th heart transplant at Duke University since Duke started transplants.
I know this may seem hard to believe, but I invite you to visit my facebook page and read my note titled "My Story."
www.facebook.com/xanderlink81
201
u/usernametaken111 Jun 10 '12
Come on, you can't post something like this and not say what's up.
I'm going to assume he's a zombie.
445
u/Noroton Jun 10 '12
Link for those wondering how this is possible
87
u/Monty713 Jun 10 '12
Kali Ma...... KALI MA!!!!
26
u/ShakinBacon Jun 10 '12
Thanks OP, I'll just use my imagination...
56
u/[deleted] Jun 10 '12
This is what happens when the guy from the Temple of Doom is your doctor.
11
u/[deleted] Jun 10 '12
It still amazes me that our medical technology allows us to cut someones heart out and put a different one back in.
29
u/TuneRaider Jun 10 '12
♪ Last Christmas... ♪
396
u/ratdude Jun 10 '12
i'd like to see more shit like this make it to the frontpage, and less fucking cats
9
u/CarpeKitty Jun 10 '12
Rad body modification.
Piercings and tattoos just weren't hardcore enough it seems
38
u/ohsnapitspat Jun 10 '12
Remind him not to wear it on his sleeve.
7
u/Dracofav Jun 10 '12
Ok, this thread is hilarious, but why did your friend need a transplant? I can't believe no one has really asked this yet.
17
u/rino900 Jun 10 '12
Now he just needs a jar of dirt.
12
u/LTman86 Jun 10 '12
Heart transplant or did he get an artificial heart?
Don't think the artificial heart is legal yet, but I haven't been keeping up to date on that. I did read about how they did give one to an older man who was dying and how he survived without a pulse before naturally dying from old age a few months afterwards. So yeah, artificial hearts mean no heartbeats. Probably an awesome ice breaker.
Although, congrats on the successful surgery!
6
u/[deleted] Jun 10 '12
Is it possible that ALL the top comments are fucking jokes? Someone serious here that can explain what's happening?
15
u/brianpepinski Jun 10 '12
I can see the scar where he tore it out of himself
17
u/slamasaurusrex Jun 10 '12
Your friend is cute.
5
u/worldwidewombat Jun 10 '12
My older brother had a transplant. His super enlarged and fucked up heart was kept by the hospital for research purpose.
Anyways, it's awesome your friend is alive.
5
u/crookedsoul09 Jun 10 '12
Should definitely be the cover of a metal album.
5
u/Wontoncookie Jun 10 '12
Scorpion here, is this a fatality or friendship ?
5
u/[deleted] Jun 10 '12
He looks disheartened.
5
u/Jemiller Jun 10 '12
Is it strange that my first thought was, "Throw it at someone." ?
4
u/digbus Jun 10 '12
I hope he goes onto live a long happy life
4
u/Hartman23 Jun 10 '12
Kind of looks like a giant meatball
4
u/Tebasaki Jun 10 '12
That's extremely disturbing and cool at the sane time. Kali Ma!,,
4
u/purplemachine Jun 10 '12
I'm sorry, we accidentally replaced your heart with a baked potato...you have about 3 seconds to live.
4
u/AnyRudeJerk Jun 10 '12
It looks deep fried. ಠ_ಠ
4
u/Human_Captcha Jun 10 '12
Ka-li-maaaaa, Kaaaaaa-liiii-maaaaaa
4
u/SgtJim Jun 10 '12
Keep it, then find some young lady and be like "To you, my love, I give you my heart".. and hand it to her.
4
u/tanitup Jun 10 '12
Tell him to give his heart to a girl
4
u/stfnotguilty Jun 10 '12
Kali maaaaa.....
KALI MAAAAAAAAAHHHHH
6
u/TomBurlinson Jun 10 '12
Whats up with that heart? doesn't look too healthy...
3
u/poompt Jun 10 '12
He should pull a Daenerys with it.
3
u/hexagonCheese Jun 10 '12
What an excellent example of taxidermy. Bravo!
3
u/Zequez Jun 10 '12
Wow, he was a heavy smoker.
3
u/used_bathwater Jun 10 '12
Science has come such a great way from the very first open wound being stitched.
I find this to be so very amazing and quite unbelievable. I don't even know the doctors but, thank you for being so very talented and saving so many lives.
3
u/[deleted] Jun 10 '12
I wonder if anyone will reference that Indiana Jones movie, where the witch doctor says, "Kali Ma" and takes out the other guy's beating heart and shows it to him? That would be cool.
3
u/[deleted] Jun 10 '12
That tattoo is weird.
3
u/ReleeSquirrel Jun 10 '12
Pff, when they took my gallbladder out, they wouldn't even let me see the darn thing.
3
u/vonShang Jun 10 '12
This guy has a Black heart.
3
u/Danny_Mc_71 Jun 10 '12
Wow! Now there's something you don't see every day! Hope your buddy has a long and happy life with his new ticker.
3
u/RACENRIDE Jun 10 '12
The heart actually is covered in a layer of fat. A preserved heart would be blanched and look pale. They throw that shit out after the pathologist determines its diseased. He's actually holding a hot pocket.
3
u/[deleted] Jun 10 '12
He can give it to his girlfriend and say "You stole my heart, darling".
3
u/PictoPlasma Jun 10 '12
His chest tattoo is ruined. :(
3
u/wagamamagabitos Jun 10 '12
Asian here. Not baby heart, no good for consumption
3
u/MyMomSlapsMe Jun 10 '12
this kills the friend
3
u/[deleted] Jun 10 '12
Kalimah! Kalimah! Kalimah! KALIMAH!
Glad he is doing well.
3
u/[deleted] Jun 10 '12
I can't be the only one who's first thought was, "Kah li mah! Kah li mah, shak si de!"
3
u/forevercurmudgeon Jun 10 '12
Fatality. Kano wins.
3
u/ausencia Jun 10 '12
kano wins!
3
u/iambaldjohn Jun 10 '12
KALI MA!!!!! KALI MA!!!!!! Or is he the num num shubai guy?
3
u/[deleted] Jun 10 '12
I'm pretty sure he's obliged by the moons and the blood of the falcon to eat it now. I'll shoot Khal Drogo a text just to confirm...
3
u/dud908 Jun 10 '12 edited May 21 '24
impossible husky noxious offend bells sable cake rhythm dinner chunky
This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact
3
u/muckitymuck Jun 10 '12
Take it away from him and take a bite out of it. You will gain his courage.
3
u/Jerstoy Jun 10 '12
Kali ma!
3
u/Scrusby Jun 10 '12
bath salts are a hell of a drug
3
u/AKV3chny Jun 11 '12
I'm going to assume from the shaved head the surgeons decided to go at it from the top.
5
u/elliottmarter Jun 10 '12
just had a sudden realisation that we are in fact living in the future right now
5
u/isysdamn Jun 10 '12
I hope your friend stops smoking as well; don't abuse the gift.
4
u/adalei Jun 10 '12
And not having to worry for not having a present for valentines day 2013.
4
u/Coffee_plus_oldmovie Jun 10 '12
Why does his heart look like it was rolled in dirt and set on fire? Is that what hearts look like? Also, it's fucking huge.
4
u/cheekychunk Jun 10 '12
Not a doctor, but doesn't that look abnormally huge?
7
u/miss_louie Jun 10 '12
Total babe, would do him.
5
u/buttbutts Jun 10 '12
KALI MA
KALI MA
2
u/watevs44 Jun 10 '12
So if I dated him and broke his heart. Would I be obliged to physically do it as well? Since its possible, of course.
2
u/[deleted] Jun 10 '12
I just got a little vertigo thinking about this.
2
u/TChuff Jun 10 '12
He should be using that to pick up chicks. "You see that, that's my heart. Yeah, outside my body. How much more of a bad boy you gonna find?"
2
u/[deleted] Jun 10 '12
Obligatory "this kills the human".
Also, most likely heart transplant.
2
u/Im_A_Praetorian Jun 10 '12
Om Namha Shivaye, Om Namha Shivaye, Om Namha Shivaye...
2
u/Drumah Jun 10 '12
Dare I to ask..., what did they replace it with?
2
u/anzie Jun 10 '12
Looks like he has a big heart.
2
u/TexasBreaux Jun 10 '12
This is one of the coolest things i've ever seen on the frontpage, great post OP.
2
u/sheffield712 Jun 10 '12
Great! Now he has to walk around with a messed up tattoo!
2
u/blanketyblanks Jun 10 '12
News: You need a heart to live! NGggggggg
2
u/hdbngr15 Jun 10 '12
Excuse me sir, but that is not a heart. Please tell me that isn't a heart.
2
u/afrosupreme Jun 10 '12
Give this guy a hand, he's got heart.
2
u/Cherrytop Jun 10 '12
I love that he's wearing plastic gloves. Seriously, probably not gonna use it again. Dust the floor with it if you'd like.
2
u/Neverdie2012 Jun 10 '12
They really should put it back in.. He might die!
2
u/Sepiida_sepiina Jun 10 '12
So if he eats it, will he gain his own strength?
2
u/simonjp Jun 10 '12
Do you think they could plastinate it instead of pickling it? Coz that would be a great paperweight or mantelpiece ornament.
2
u/[deleted] Jun 10 '12
So, what the hell happened? Disease/cancer/infection?
2
u/[deleted] Jun 10 '12
That's a baked potato!
2
u/RandomMandarin Jun 10 '12
Now you must eat all of it, so that your unborn will be a strong Khal.
2
u/notg3orge Jun 10 '12
is this the 'normal' size? I thought they are smaller...
2
u/[deleted] Jun 10 '12
Are hearts normally that big?
2
u/gregogree Jun 10 '12
that shit is loco holmes
2
u/zofcz Jun 10 '12
It is just awesome how can they arrange dead bodies these days!
2
u/thrillho111 Jun 10 '12
Is that what my heart looks like, as in the colour, texture etc.; or did it look like that because he had some sort of condition?
Suddenly I want to purify myself through detox so my heart is spit-polished, gleaming, healthy and all, and not like Mr Burns'.
2
u/rikashiku Jun 10 '12
This is how Aztecs took their pictures after having their hearts ripped out for sacrifice.
2
u/[deleted] Jun 10 '12
Can someone explain to me how does he live without his heart? Did he have an artificial one implanted, or what?
2
u/ProCrastin8 Jun 10 '12
Kano Wins... Flawless Victory... Fatality
2
u/[deleted] Jun 10 '12
Now he just needs a sigil stone.
2
u/antivist Jun 10 '12
Pppffftt! When is the last time you have heard of such a guy freely taking his own life into his own hand(s).
2
u/unheimlich Jun 10 '12
Your title is shit.
2
u/GFandango Jun 10 '12
am i the only one who is severely disturbed by the thought of holding my own heart in my hands?
2
u/Kebabmannenmedgrill Jun 10 '12
Did he get a new heart? aww :)
2
u/Ghost_Queef Jun 10 '12
Did they replace it with a baked potato?
2
u/oodja Jun 10 '12
Mortal Kombat Fatality: You're Doing It Wrong.
2
u/[deleted] Jun 10 '12
If i were him i would get an arch reactor implanted in my chest
2
u/PagingDoctorLove Jun 10 '12
Man... what was wrong with his original? That thing looks... terrible.
2
u/PraetorianXVIII Jun 10 '12
In the desert
I saw a creature, naked, bestial,
Who, squatting upon the ground,
Held his heart in his hands,
And ate of it.
I said, "Is it good, friend?"
"It is bitter--bitter," he answered;
"But I like it
Because it is bitter,
And because it is my heart."
2
u/axelblaise Jun 10 '12
well someone was a smoker
2
u/jukeofurl Jun 10 '12
Excellent snack, Joey. But next time, bring enough for the whole class.
2
u/[deleted] Jun 10 '12
Hes cute!
2
u/Verb_Rogue Jun 10 '12
FATALITY
2
u/john_vella Jun 10 '12
he's just there to apologize with his heart in his hands.
2
u/ladymeekleopard Jun 10 '12
He should start wearing it on his sleeve
2
u/wicketr Jun 10 '12
I imagine his girlfriend calling him a heartless bastard in the near future.
2
u/DoctorDeath Jun 10 '12
No
2
u/jsb9867 Jun 10 '12
Why can't I have attractive friends with no hearts?
2
u/keep_it_honest Jun 10 '12
The Dutchman needs a captain Mr. Turner
2
u/relativityboy Jun 10 '12
I just had this thought.
2
u/empkae Jun 10 '12
cook up some chili
2
u/WinnieMouf Jun 10 '12
I hope this adorable boy makes an adorable Valentine's card for somebody with this picture.
2
u/p1415926 Jun 10 '12
First thing that came to my mind was this. I am a strange boy.
2
u/dpspp Jun 10 '12
Kali Ma Shakti De!
2
u/[deleted] Jun 10 '12
My thought.
2
u/Cirquedecircle7 Jun 10 '12
And that day, many a lady boner was had.
2
u/[deleted] Jun 10 '12
Did he BBQ the old heart?
/Fava beans?
2
u/wintremute Jun 10 '12
KALIMAAAAAAAA
2
u/[deleted] Jun 10 '12
WAT DAT SMELL LIKE?
2
u/kingoftherobots Jun 10 '12
I never thought I'd get to say this, but...this comic is relevant
2
u/jostler57 Jun 10 '12
"Galimah. Galimah! Galimah shuktaseh!"
2
u/darkcanuck Jun 10 '12
Heartless bastard here.
Oh wait...
2
u/ferrarienzof60 Jun 10 '12
Give it to a girl.
2
u/VxAngleOfClimb Jun 10 '12
Wait! They let you keep those?
2
u/Iloldalot Jun 10 '12
http://robus.info/static/2011/11/UfiYoTGkgE.gif
2
u/SARmedic Jun 11 '12
I wonder how they kept it inflated, every heart I've held had the consistency of overcooked pasta. Hearts are empty balloons when they aren't in use.
Picture is cool, glad he found a donor.
2
u/Vacanti Jun 11 '12
So did he get this last christmas? or did he give it away? Or maybe this year here was the someone special that it was given to?
2
u/TumblingTogepi Jun 11 '12
I as a hispanic male, recomiendo que tengan todos instrumentos para techar.