The Man Who Lived 555 Days Without a Heart

Could you survive without a heart for 555 days? Stan Larkin did.

At 24, Stan’s life was turned upside down. He was diagnosed with a rare and life-threatening heart condition: familial cardiomyopathy.

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His heart was failing, and doctors made the unthinkable decision: Stan’s heart had to be removed.

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But doctors had a solution: an artificial heart, powered by a portable device he could carry in a backpack.

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For 555 days, this device became Stan’s lifeline—keeping him alive as he waited for a donor heart.

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Incredibly, Stan lived an active life—he even played basketball—all while carrying his artificial heart in a backpack.

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Stan's journey wasn’t just about survival. He embraced life, spending time with family and friends, living every day to the fullest.

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After 555 days of waiting, Stan finally got the call—he was getting a real heart. The transplant was a success!

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Stan’s resilience, courage, and the power of medical technology brought him through one of the toughest battles imaginable.

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Stan Larkin’s story is a reminder of the strength of the human spirit—and the miracle of modern medicine.

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