Charles Tillman speaks about the Berlin Heart in Washington
October 27th, 2009 - 9:50 pm ICT by Aishwarya Bhatt
- Washington DC, Oct 27 (THAINDIAN NEWS) The star cornerback for Chicago Bears Charles was invited to Washington DC to speak about the Berlin Heart on October 26th. His pretty baby daughter Tiana Tillman was tragically diagnosed with a rare heart disorder called cardiomyopathy, which is an enlargement of the heart that inhibits beating.
This rare condition requires a heart transplant or it would be fatal for her. It was a task to find a donor for her that would match. That is where the Berlin Heart saved her life.
Because of this amazing device, Tiana Tillman was given a few more precious days until an exact donor could be found. That heart donor was eventually found and a successful heart transplant was done when she was just 3 months old. Her life was saved because of the Berlin Heart.
Charles Tillman said that, “I felt it was my duty to do it. For everything she went through and the other recipients go through this is the least that I can do. Flying to Washington, staying in a nice hotel and speaking to politicians is easy considering what they’ve done.”
The event at which Charles Tillman spoke, was hosted by the Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed), the American College of Cardiology and Mended Hearts, a support group that assists heart-disease patients and their families.
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Posted in Sports, |
October 27th, 2009 at 11:15 pm
don’t bother thanking the heart donor’s family which unselfishly consented to donation, or the heart transplant team, or the tissue typing lab that did all the work to match this transplant. Yes, an artificial device is extremely useful and serves as a liason until a real heart becomes available. Tillman should be grateful for everything, and thank everyone- expanding the focus to the ultimate gift- donation.
October 28th, 2009 at 2:13 am
I can’t believe that you would take a snippet of an article, and be so heartless as to assume that Mr. Tillman hasn’t or wouldn’t thank all of those people that you mentioned. This article is specifically about the Berlin Heart and its benefits of extending a little girl’s life a little longer so that she could eventually receive a donor heart. Why are people so ready to expound on the negative and try and spin things in a bad light? Why can’t we be happy for this man and his infant child. Without this Berlin heart, this little girl would have passed before she ever had a chance to get a heart from a donor. Please remember, whoever you are, that not everything is meant to be slight against someone.
October 28th, 2009 at 3:47 am
Thank you so much for this heartwarming story. I pray all involved will feel the blessing of what has happened. God alone knows our journey. I will keep all parties in my prayers and pray everyone looks at each moment we have with cherished loved ones as a miracle. Peace and Love, Millie
October 28th, 2009 at 3:55 am
Thanks Leo, my thoughts exactly!