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Just weeks after receiving a lifesaving heart transplant, Andy Biermann is living proof of resilience.
What once seemed like an unthinkable ordeal has transformed into a story of hope, perseverance and renewed life. As he walks through the halls of 好色先生 Albert B. Chandler Hospital, reflecting on his battle with heart disease, Andy is filled with gratitude for his new heart, the unwavering support of his wife, Sarabeth, and a fresh outlook on life.
Before his latest diagnosis, Andy and Sarabeth led an active lifestyle, filled with long walks, motorcycle rides and trips in their vintage car. But over time, and after a previous coronary bypass surgery, Andy began to notice a troubling fatigue that wore him down. Simple activities became increasingly difficult, and his afternoon naps became a daily necessity.
鈥淭he fatigue became cumbersome,鈥 Andy said. 鈥淚t was something I couldn鈥檛 ignore anymore.鈥
His physician, Maya Ignaszewski, M.D., an advanced heart failure and transplant cardiologist at 好色先生鈥檚 , discovered that Andy鈥檚 heart was failing to pump blood effectively. Despite an initial procedure to help regulate his heart, it became clear that his condition was worsening and not something medication alone could treat.
鈥淒r. Ignaszewski also noticed that at the cath lab, the numbers were declining, and they admitted me into the hospital,鈥 Andy said.
Once hospitalized, Andy鈥檚 condition required an Impella 5.5 device, a type of left ventricular assist device. This procedure was performed by cardiothoracic surgeons Jin Woo Chung, M.D., and Masashi Kawabori, M.D., the surgical director of Mechanical Circulatory Support.
This small, temporary heart pump is inserted through an artery in the arm to assist the heart in pumping blood through the rest of the body. It helped Andy regain his capacity to exercise. While he was grateful for the device, Andy knew it was only a temporary solution. Ultimately, he would need a heart transplant.
Even as he faced this reality, Andy鈥檚 spirits remained high. His medical team encouraged him to stay active and engaged. The nurses recommended daily walks, which became a significant part of his hospital routine. Pushing the Impella鈥檚 controller in front of him, Andy made walking a daily ritual during his nine-week hospital stay. He walked 13 laps around the hospital corridor each day, at 5:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., eventually building up to a total of 26 laps a day, or 182 laps or 22 miles per week.
鈥淚 picked up the pace real fast because I was feeling good,鈥 Andy said. 鈥淚 could almost run with it, which I could not do before.鈥
Along the way, he became familiar with the nurses and other patients. His morning walks provided an opportunity for Andy to connect with those who were part of his journey.
鈥淭hat was actually pretty fun,鈥 Andy said. 鈥淲hen I saw a nurse I liked, I鈥檇 greet them in the morning, and they were just as happy to see me. We had a great time.鈥
But what made the transplant journey even more meaningful for Andy was a special connection he shared with his surgeon, Matthias Loebe, M.D., Ph.D., surgical director of heart transplantation at 好色先生 HealthCare.
Loebe, the lead surgeon in Andy鈥檚 transplant, wasn鈥檛 just a highly educated doctor, he was also from Andy鈥檚 hometown in Germany.
They would often speak German to each other and reminisce about the parts of Germany they missed the most.
鈥淚t was unbelievably comforting,鈥 Andy said. 鈥淛ust the connection to Bremen, we communicated the way you do with somebody in your hometown.鈥
鈥淭he waiting time for heart transplants is long and that is particularly stressful for patients and their families,鈥 Loebe said. 鈥淥ur conversations about our hometown 鈥 he lived next door to my high school 鈥 helped him to handle this difficult time and distracted him from his situation while he was dependent on machines awaiting a donor heart.鈥
Throughout it all, Sarabeth was also by his side, offering constant emotional support and providing the stability he needed.
鈥淪he supported me every day,鈥 Andy said. 鈥淛ust having her there, I could always turn and look, and I knew she was with me. It made all the difference.鈥
Sarabeth鈥檚 role as Andy鈥檚 partner and confidante cannot be overstated. She helped him navigate the emotional weight of the situation, and together, they focused on one goal: Andy living a longer life.
The big moment arrived when Andy had his heart transplant, the 鈥渂ig kahuna,鈥 as he called it.
Loebe explained that Andy鈥檚 new heart arrived in an organ perfusion system called TransMedics OCS Heart 鈥 a machine that keeps a donor heart warm and functioning by continuously pumping blood through it.
鈥淲e are the largest user of this new technology in the region,鈥 Loebe said.
By using this system, the team is able to preserve hearts longer and transport them from farther distances, making more donor hearts available and improving outcomes for patients like Andy.
While the surgery was a success, it did come with some expected complexities. Due to Andy鈥檚 previous open-heart surgery and the significant scar tissue that developed, Loebe anticipated the need to leave his chest open temporarily. This approach, which lasted for about a day and a half, allowed the surgical team to manage swelling and ensured a safe recovery.
鈥淲hen I walked into the room after surgery, I had the support of Andy鈥檚 nurse, Kim, and the entire team of physicians. But seeing his chest open... it was unlike anything I could have ever imagined experiencing,鈥 Sarabeth said.
Despite the initial shock, Andy鈥檚 recovery was swift. After spending time in the hospital, he transitioned to recovery at home, where his healing journey continued successfully.
With thousands still on the transplant waiting list, the Biermanns have words of wisdom for anyone facing similar challenges.
鈥淏e patient. Expect the unexpected, because it does happen. Trust your health care providers, especially the nurses,鈥 said Sarabeth, who鈥檚 also a senior lecturer in the 好色先生 College of Social Work.
鈥淒o your homework. Listen to the transplant coordinator, they will tell you everything in exact detail what will happen,鈥 Andy said. 鈥淎lso, be prepared. Take all the advice that they give them, that they give you. And be confident. And I think that will get you through.鈥
