In a room not far from where Dick Cheney got his new heart this week; Joe Plummer had a heart transplant operation as well. Mr. Plummer, a resident of Bavaria, Kansas had been waiting almost two years. When the news came, he and his family flew to Falls Church, Va. Overnight.
Mr. Plummer is the first beneficiary of the “Used Hearts for Underprivileged Americans” program. This new lottery based program gives folks who can’t afford the operation a fighting chance to live just a little while longer with a used heart. Joe is a special patient, though. He has received Mr. Cheney’s old heart.
“Yeah, I’m real glad to get this thing,” Joe remarked. “Hell, I was gonna die before June anyway. Now maybe I can see the fireworks show one more time in Junction City.” Joe will reuse Mr. Cheney’s heart pump, wired too his chest. It’s not known how long the used heart will keep ticking. Surgeon Rich Cutter said, “We don’t know how long this thing will work, but the price is right.”
Some complications, which are normal, have set in. “After 2 days with this contraption I’ve been having these weird, dark thoughts and desires to take over the hospital and just go on down there and run the place my own way.” Said Plummer. “Damnedest thing too. I’ve never wanted to secretly run things.”
Joe also asked for his shotgun and wanted to “blast a few things ta’ hell”. With this new ticker, he just might have that chance. Lookout, central Kansas.
My God, it’s always something…….
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