CHARLESTON, SC NEWS - LIVE 5 WCSC Breaking News, Weather, SportsPatient youngest in the state to receive artificial heart
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By Anthony Miller bio | email | Twitter
CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) - Asha Wilson sat in the hotel she's staying in remembering the pain of the last few months.
"It was so scary. I couldn't even sleep because I was scared that I was going to be shocked," said Wilson.
It was a shock to keep Wilson alive.
For seven days straight Wilson had to, in effect, be shocked back to life with a defibrillator.
A tough time for the 19-year-old who has had heart problems all her life.
But today, is a new day.
"Asha is the first pediatric patient in South Carolina to receive the HeartMate II," said Dr. Jennifer Peura of MUSC.
"It's an artificial heart that provides support for a failed heart," said Dr. Peura.
The device has been around since 2008 and Asha is the ninth person in the state to receive it.
In the past doctors say patients like Wilson would have died waiting for a heart transplant.
But now, the newer, smaller technology is on her side.
"It's a much smaller device and it can be used in both woman and smaller patients," said Dr. Peura.
So save for one interesting side effect:
"She does not have a heartbeat, her blood flow is continuous," said Dr. Peura.
Asha doesn't have to be scared to go to sleep anymore.
"I feel great, better than I did when I first got in the hospital," said Wilson.
Now the Art Institute of Charleston student can put her heart into making her dream of opening a restaurant come true.
"It's been hard but I just take it day by day. I'm blessed to still be here though," said Wilson.
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