Life After a ‘Dead’ Heart September 22, 2007

Posted by TheraVitae in : VesCell in the News , trackback

Monongalia County man gets new lease on life

Story by Courtney Dunn

SNAKE HILL — Terry Areford had at least five heart attacks, six bypasses and five surgeries. But when doctors here told him there was nothing they more they could do, he refused to give up the fight for his life.

“[My doctor] said the good news is you’re here, the bad news is most of your heart is dead,” Areford said, recalling the day last May when he heard the final news.

At 61, Areford’s doctors told him he had to get a transplant or get his affairs in order.

“So I figured I’d say goodbye to the people I loved then go out and play some golf or something and stress my heart - and I would,” he added, “meet my maker.”

But his daughter turned to the Internet and found Theravitae.com and a procedure in Thailand that uses a patient’s own adult stem cells to create new blood pathways to regenerate the heart.

“I told them I’d do everything in my power to stay alive long enough to try,” Areford said, explaining that he decided to do it for his children and his soon to be seven grandchildren.

But for a man who could barely walk around the house, it was risky.

“My eyes were nothing but slits, my color was a putrid gray, my wife was afraid I was going to die on the airplane trip over,” Areford said.

Because the surgery can’t be done locally, the overseas trip cost Areford $45,000. But he says the procedure is a Godsend and worth saving his life.

Even if it meant taking out a second mortgage on his house, and traveling to Thailand.

But Areford said in the end, every penny was worth it.

“I’ve played ball with my grandkids, played some basketball out on our court. if I were to die tomorrow I’ve had at least the last couple of months of quality,” he said.

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Areford would like nothing more than to get the word out about this procedure and help anyone he can. You may reach him at:

TERRY AREFORD: 304.594.9377 304.685.8512