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  3. What sound does your heart make?

What sound does your heart make?

People walk on the beach at sunrise in Tynemouth Longsands, in Tynemouth, north England, Saturday Dec. 10, 2011. High winds and cold weather struck many regions of England over the past few days. (AP Photo / Owen Humphreys, PA) (Owen Humphreys / Associated Press)
People walk on the beach at sunrise in Tynemouth Longsands, in Tynemouth, north England, Saturday Dec. 10, 2011. High winds and cold weather struck many regions of England over the past few days. (AP Photo / Owen Humphreys, PA) (Owen Humphreys / Associated Press)

A recipient of a donor heart has said that it is quieter than his mechanical heart.  

I remember the first artificial heart recipient: In 1982, Seattle dentist Barney Clark became the first human to receive a permanent artificial heart, a device known as the Jarvik 7. It was a really big deal.

 And now, this man, 51-year-old Chris Marshall lived away from the hospital with a mechanical heart while waiting for the human donor heart. He was able to leave because of a device called an “ 'experimental portable heart-driver' he carted around in a backpack.”

What great strides we have made in medicine and what great love one has to offer one’s life, one’s heart, to another as he/she departs this Earthly existence.A heart that beats with sounds of extraordinary generosity and compassion.

(S-R archives photo)

Spokesman-Review features writer Rebecca Nappi, along with writer Catherine Johnston of Olympia, Wash., discuss here issues facing aging boomers, seniors and those experiencing serious illness, dying, death and other forms of loss.