Cheney's new heart....

[PrincessFiona]

I've been dying to talk about this here, but I haven't been near a real computer to sit down and type it out. It appears that Dick Cheney got a heart transplant at 71. I haven't been able to find information about the compatibility factors, etc, but I feel really outraged by this. I imagine that there were other younger patients who were just as sick who could have benefited from this 'gift of life'? I am truly sorry for Cheney that he has such terrible heart disease, but shouldn't his age and other health issues have prevented him from having this? I wonder how he paid? If this was done using his extra special govt. insurance, then we paid for it too....

Kris

[L.Jane]

I have no answers but I had the exact same thoughts. They said on NPR that he waited twice the average wait for a heart, but that he is over the age range in which they usually give hearts. The older a patient is, the shorter the heart usually lasts too. They also said transplants are chosen due to proximity, similar body type and the same blood type. If this heart had no other matches (which I doubt, but I guess its possible), then I can't begrudge him that heart. BUT if there were other close matches that were younger, I question the selfishness of taking a heart that could have saved a younger person. I don't know. I guess I can't judge until I am in that position myself.

[PrincessFiona]

I think he only waited 22 months or something.....I thought that there were people who waited longer? Maybe I'm wrong. It seems to me that so many people die while on the heart transplant list. A past colleague of mine just had a heart transplant (she's not yet 40!) and she grieves quite a bit for people who have died waiting and continue to. She was on the list for about 6 months and was truly very ill when she finally got the call.....so I guess this issue strikes a chord with me.

[GrayMatterWife]

He waited two years--well more than the average, from what is being reported, and he is in excellent kidney and liver health (apparently, often candidates are not). If there had been a better-situated candidate, it would have gone to someone else.

I am so sad for for the family who lost someone but very happy for the Cheneys. And I am beyond disgusted with all the low-class, empathy-devoid jokes that some leftie commentators are making. It's disgraceful.

[GrayMatterWife]

I should disclose: I have met Cheney and have represented a company that he had helmed. I find him to be a deeply compassionate, thoughtful person who is bizarrely vilified as evil.

When I saw that he got the heart, all I could think was: here come the idiotic "Cheney finally has a heart" comments. He is someone's husband, father, and grandfather. As long as the organ donor match rules were properly applied (and there's no suggestion they were not), I think it is great

[PrincessFiona]

My issue isn't really political ... I'm not a Cheney fan, but I won't vilify him either. I guess my understanding is that the absolute cut-off for heart transplantation is age 70 ... and usually most people aren't considered after 65. Maybe I'm wrong? I have empathy for anyone with a serious illness and God knows that if I was 71, I'd be begging for a few more days. At the same time, we have such a disparity in this country between those who have access to this type of healthcare and those who don't. It seems like a bit of a waste of our financial healthcare resources.....and I would say that no matter who it was at age 71. He just happens to be a high profile individual that got media attention.

Kris

[Ladybug]

I've reached a point where I don't find 71 to be that old. I hope to live into my nineties or beyond. That's twenty more years to love and watch your children and grandchildren and maybe great grandchildren grow.

[v-girl]

71 is only 2 years older than my mom. I can't imagine if she were in need of a new heart and people were saying she was too old. I see nothing wrong with Cheney getting a heart transplant. I'm happy for him and his family for the additional time they get to have with him!

[weeniegeniewife]

71 is only 2 years older than my mom. I can't imagine if she were in need of a new heart and people were saying she was too old. I see nothing wrong with cheney getting a heart transplant. I'm happy for him and his family for the additional time they get to have with him!

ita.

[Pollyanna]

All life is valuable no matter what age. Honestly it is disturbing to watch as our society continues to determine what lives are worth living. Over 90% of Downs babies are killed in the womb. We have started placing age limits on who gets what surgery and question whether a heathy man deserves a new heart because he is "old". If his doctors think he is a good candidate and a heart becomes available then I say go for it, no matter what your age. Here is an interesting link to a variety of seniors and what they are contibuting to society: http://seniorjournal.com/SenStars.htm

[mommax3]

I agree with Pollyanna 100%. This is a very slippery slope imo.

[PrincessFiona]

Who will pay for it all, my fine republican colleagues...I am pro-lifeat all ages too. So are we voting for tax increases?

[diggitydot]

Sorry, I disagree. At some point we have to be able to let go and accept death when the time comes.

[v-girl]

Who will pay for it all, my fine republican colleagues...I am pro-lifeat all ages too. So are we voting for tax increases?

If that is what it would take, I would gladly pay more taxes.

[Ladybug]

I don't think you have to increase taxes. If you a healthy candidate and you've waited your time, then you should have equal access. My understanding is that qualifying is a more stringent process when you're older too. There isn't going to be an influx of available hearts that will increase our medical costs or taxes.