William J. Schroeder
Born(1932-02-14)February 14, 1932
Jasper, Indiana, United States
DiedAugust 7, 1986(1986-08-07) (aged 54)
Louisville, Kentucky, United States
Burial placeFairview Cemetery, Jasper, Indiana, United States
Known forSecond permanent human recipient of a Jarvik 7, at the time the longest-surviving recipient of a permanent artificial heart

William J. Schroeder (February 14, 1932 – August 7, 1986), was one of the first recipients of an artificial heart. Schroeder was born in Jasper, Indiana, and was a Sergeant in the United States Air Force from 1952 to 1966.[1] On November 25, 1984, at the age of 52, became the second human recipient of the Jarvik 7. The transplant was performed at Humana Heart Institute International in Louisville, Kentucky by Dr. William C. DeVries.[2]

Death

After 18 days, he suffered the first of a series of strokes, eventually leaving him in a vegetative state. He died on August 7, 1986, at 1:35PM of a lung infection, a year and 255 days (620 days) after receiving the Jarvik 7.[3] This was the longest that anyone had survived with an artificial heart at that time.[4]

The headstone marking Schroeder's grave is made of black granite in the shape of two overlapping hearts. One is laser engraved with an image of the Jarvik 7.[5]

Sources

Barnette, Martha (1987). The Bill Schroeder story. New York: Morrow. ISBN 0-688-06893-6.

References

  1. ^ "Sgt William J. Schroeder (1932-1986) - Find a..." www.findagrave.com. Retrieved 2022-03-02.
  2. ^ Altman, Lawrence K. (August 7, 1986). "WILLIAM SCHROEDER DIES 620 DAYS AFTER RECEIVING ARTIFICIAL HEART". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-09-20.
  3. ^ Kleist, Trina (1986-08-16). "Schroeder's struggle lasts 620 days - artificial heart recipient William J. Schroeder". Science News. Science Service, Inc. Retrieved 2008-09-20.
  4. ^ Altman, Lawrence K. (August 10, 1986). "A HERO OF MEDICINE; Schroeder, Longest User of Jarvik Device, Helped Prove Hearts Can Be Replaced". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-09-20.
  5. ^ Fox, Renée Claire; Judith P. Swazey (1992). Spare Parts: Organ Replacement in American Society. Oxford University Press. pp. 137–139. ISBN 978-0-19-507650-9.


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