A Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) was the last option for Gene Laferlita. After years of suffering from congestive heart failure and myriad other health problems, his cardiologist told him that his medicine was no longer working. He referred Gene to the Maimonides Heart & Vascular Center to be tested for eligibility to receive the LVAD, a device that would help his weak heart by pumping oxygen-rich blood through his left ventricle. Maimonides is the first and only accredited LVAD Program in Brooklyn.

Gene qualified for the procedure and became the first patient in Brooklyn to receive the Heartmate II LVAD. Four months after the procedure, Gene is lively and looking toward the future. For more information on LVAD implantation, click here.