Our VAD Program Is Only on LI to Be Continuously Certified by Joint Commission since 2011
Joseph's incredibly active life had turned into constant fatigue, and he often had to sit down and rest at work. "Then it started to become harder to go up the stairs. It became more difficult, and harder to breathe," Joseph says.
The advanced heart specialists at Stony Brook's Heart Failure and Cardiomyopathy Center optimized Joseph's medications and explained his options. "In one day, I got a bunch of news I didn't want to get," Joseph recalls. "But Stony Brook fixed me up."
Allison J. McLarty, MD, surgical director of the ventricular assist device (VAD) program at Stony Brook University Heart Institute, performed surgery on Joseph to implant a VAD in early 2017.
The pump took over for his failing heart until he received a heart transplant on his 58th birthday — May 15 of 2018.
"For Joseph's treatment of advanced heart failure, the VAD served as a ‘bridge to transplant' — a lifesaving intervention that allowed him to become eligible to receive a heart transplantation," says Dr. McLarty.
"In one day, I got a bunch of news I didn't want to get," Joseph Cerqueira recalls. "But Stony Brook fixed me up."
"The implanted VAD took over the pumping work of the heart, allowing Joseph to become stronger and physically better prepared to undergo heart transplant surgery."
Today Joseph is back to work as executive chef at the catering facility Terrace On The Park, located in Queens. He supervises four kitchens that supply meals for 11 catering rooms plus a penthouse. It's a hectic life, but he loves it.
"I'm ecstatic about getting back to work. For me, it has been part of the healing process," Joseph says. "I wanted to work so I wouldn't be cooped up at home, staring at the walls."
His active schedule is a long way from the fatigue he experienced before the VAD implant. "Now my quality of life is perfect. I still get tired and I know my limitations, but besides that I do whatever has to be done."
Joseph is "extremely pleased" with the care he received from his surgeon Dr. McLarty; his cardiologist, Hal A. Skopicki, MD, PhD; and all the Stony Brook Medicine personnel he has encountered.
Joseph was diagnosed with severe heart failure after two heart attacks, and also learned he had type 2 diabetes.
"What can I say — they were more like friends or family," Joseph says. "Everybody went the extra mile to make me comfortable and knowledgeable on how to adapt to every aspect of life with a VAD."
"The care doesn't end after a patient receives a VAD," says Dr. Skopicki, chief of cardiology, Stony Brook Heart Institute; director, Heart Failure and Cardiomyopathy Center, and medical director, VAD Program. "Our VAD team explains every nuance involved with the device so the patient has the knowledge and confidence to leave the hospital and adjust to life at home."
At work he supervises other chefs, but when he's at home in Coram, Joseph loves to do the cooking. He is originally from Portugal, but was trained in Italy in a variety of cuisines: classical Italian, Greek, Middle Eastern, German, and Asian.
"So pretty much I can dabble in most everything," he says. "But I prefer Northern Italian. It's awesome." He especially likes to cook polentas, anything with legumes, hearty soups and fish.
He enjoys spending time with his wife Ivone and daughter Kimberly. He and Ivone plan to fly home to Portugal soon, to visit relatives there.
Once a month, Joseph attends the same support group for Stony Brook VAD patients that he went to when he was a heart patient. Now his purpose is to encourage others who are candidates for the device.
It's his way of "paying back" for the new life he's been enjoying since his VAD implant and subsequent heart transplant, he says. "So when people see me they can say, ‘Wow, this guy was once like me and now he's like this.' It gives people hope."
| When patients with advanced heart disease experience poor quality of life despite the best that medical therapy can offer, our team of specialists at Stony Brook Heart Institute's ventricular assist device (VAD) program can evaluate patients to see if they may benefit from implantation of state-of-the-art mechanical cardiac assist devices. A testament to the high-quality care of our patients, our VAD program is the only on Long Island to be continuously certified by the Joint Commission since 2011. |
