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Heart: An American Medical Odyssey Hardcover – October 22, 2013

by Dick Cheney (Author), Jonathan Reiner M.D. (Author)

4.7 165 ratings

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Former Vice President Dick Cheney and his longtime cardiologist, Dr. Jonathan Reiner, share the story of Cheney’s thirty-five-year battle with heart disease—providing insight into the incredible medical breakthroughs that have changed cardiac care over the last four decades.

For as long as he has served at the highest levels of business and government, Vice President Dick Cheney has also been one of the world’s most prominent heart patients. Now, for the first time ever, Cheney, together with his longtime cardiologist, Jonathan Reiner, MD, shares the very personal story of his courageous thirty-five-year battle with heart disease, from his first heart attack in 1978 to the heart transplant he received in 2012.

In 1978, when Cheney suffered his first heart attack, he received essentially the same treatment President Eisenhower had had in 1955. Since then, cardiac medicine has been revolutionized, and Cheney has benefitted from nearly every medical breakthrough. At each juncture, when Cheney faced a new health challenge, the technology was one step ahead of his disease. Cheney’s story is in many ways the story of the evolution of modern cardiac care.

Heart is the riveting, singular memoir of both doctor and patient. Like no US politician has before him, Cheney opens up about his health struggles, sharing harrowing, never-before-told stories about the challenges he faced during a perilous time in our nation’s history. Dr. Reiner provides his perspective on Cheney’s case and also gives readers a fascinating glimpse into his own education as a doctor and the history of our understanding of the human heart. He masterfully chronicles the important discoveries, radical innovations, and cutting-edge science that have changed the face of medicine and saved countless lives.

Powerfully braiding science with story and the personal with the political, Heart is a sweeping, inspiring, and ultimately optimistic book that will give hope to the millions of Americans affected by heart disease.

Print length

352 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Scribner
Publication date

October 22, 2013
Dimensions

6.25 x 1.25 x 9.25 inches
ISBN-10

147672539X
ISBN-13

978-1476725390
See all details

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Fascinating...a must-read for anyone facing heart disease, as well as their families and friends." -- Hugh Hewitt ― The Washington Examiner

"Heart represents a rare glimpse into the personal side of a former vice president... with his political career behind him and the [heart] transplant a success, he decided to open up in a way he never had before." ― The New York Times

“Extraordinary. . . . intertwines the fascinating ups and downs (mostly ups) of Cheney’s political career with his heart incidents and his cardiologist’s recollections of Cheney’s condition and the development of cardiac medicine at the time. . . . Heart will remind readers of Dick Cheney’s humanity and his long service to the nation.” ― The Weekly Standard

About the Author

Dick Cheney served at the highest levels of government and the private sector for more than forty years. He was White House Chief of Staff under President Gerald Ford and was elected six times to the US House of Representatives from Wyoming, eventually becoming the minority whip. He served asSecretary of Defense under President George H.W. Bush, overseeing America’s military during the 1991 Operation Desert Storm. He served as chairman and CEO of a Fortune 100 company, and as the forty-sixth Vice President of the United States, he served two terms under President George W. Bush during the dawn of the Global War on Terror, playing a key role in events that have shaped history.

Jonathan Reiner, MD, is the director of the cardiac catheterization laboratory at The George Washington University Hospital and professor of medicine at The George Washington University in Washington, DC. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and Georgetown University, Dr. Reiner completed a residency in medicine at North Shore University Hospital and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. He began a fellowship in cardiology at The George Washington University Medical Center in 1990. In 1994, he completed a fellowship in interventional cardiology, which, along with the management of patients with complex coronary artery disease,remains his focus today.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Vice President Cheney

June 2010

If this is dying, I remember thinking, it’s not all that bad. It had been thirty-two years since my first heart attack. I’d had four additional heart attacks since then and faced numerous other health challenges. Now, in the summer of 2010, seventeen months after I left the White House, I was in end-stage heart failure.

On a trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, in May, it had become clear my weakened heart could not tolerate the high altitude. I returned to Washington on an emergency flight, and as the plane took off, I realized I might never see my beloved Wyoming again. Since then, my wife, Lynne, and I had been at our house in McLean, Virginia. When I got up in the morning, all I wanted to do was sit down in my big easy chair, watch television, and sleep.

What was happening to me was hardly a surprise. I had lived with coronary artery disease for many years, and I had long assumed it would be the cause of my death. Sooner or later, time and medical technology would run out on me. Now my heart was no longer providing an adequate supply of blood to my other vital organs. My kidneys were starting to fail. I believed I was approaching the end of my days, but that didn’t frighten me. I was pain free and at peace, and I had led a remarkable life.

I thought about final arrangements. I wanted to be cremated and have my ashes returned to Wyoming. It was a difficult subject to broach with my family. They weren’t eager to discuss it. For them, talking about it made an already difficult situation even worse. But I needed them to know. And I needed to say good-bye. As my condition deteriorated that summer, my cardiologist, Dr. Jonathan Reiner, had raised the possibility of having a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implanted in my chest, and I agreed to be briefed on it at Inova Fairfax

Hospital in Northern Virginia, which has one of the most active LVAD programs in the country.

The LVAD transplant team showed me the device, which connects to the left ventricle, the main pumping chamber of the heart. The LVAD passes blood through a small pump operating at nine thousand revolutions per minute and returns it to the aorta, the largest artery in the human body, ensuring an adequate blood supply to the vital organs. The device is powered by a driveline that passes through the wall of the chest to an external set of batteries or an electrical outlet.

The idea of being kept alive by a battery-driven piece of equipment operating at high speed inside my chest was a bit daunting at first, but it soon became apparent that this option offered real hope and the possibility of extending my life long enough to be eligible for a new heart. Previously we had never really considered a heart transplant as an option for me because I clearly wouldn’t live long enough to work my way up the transplant list to become eligible for a heart. The average wait was about twelve months. The medical team explained that although the LVAD was originally designed as a bridge to a transplant, some patients were deciding to live with the device.

I was impressed with the individuals on the LVAD/transplant team: they clearly knew their business. It was also apparent that they respected and welcomed Jon Reiner, who although he practices at George Washington University Hospital, would be included as an integral part of the team. That carried great weight with me given all that Jon and I had been through together over the past fifteen years.

The preceding weeks had been challenging. I not only had many of the symptoms of a failing heart, I was also, due to the anticoagulants I was taking, suffering severe nosebleeds, including one so massive it required emergency surgery and a number of blood transfusions. On more than one occasion that spring, we had found ourselves speeding down the George Washington Parkway in Northern Virginia toward my doctors and the emergency room at George Washington University Hospital in the District of Columbia. In addition, my heart failure was causing severe sleep apnea. As soon as I nodded off to sleep, I would find myself awake again, gasping for air.

On July 4, I’d experienced internal bleeding in my thigh and was rushed to George Washington University Hospital as fireworks lit up the night sky. At the hospital, they gave me narcotic painkillers, which, as we were on the way home and stuck in holiday traffic, caused me to be sick to my stomach. The list of things I could not do grew. I’d stopped climbing the stairs. I could no longer walk to the end of the driveway to pick up the morning newspapers. I barely had the strength to walk the length of the hallway between our bedroom and my office. My world shrank until I was barely able to leave my bed. By the time I was admitted to Inova Fairfax Hospital on July 6, 2010, it was clear that there really was no choice: without the LVAD surgery I would not survive.

My last memory of that evening is of Jon Reiner and the other doctors and my family gathered around my bed in the intensive care unit. The doctors explained that although they had originally scheduled the surgery for July 8, my situation was worsening and they recommended taking me immediately to the operating room. After I listened to the doctors, I asked Lynne and our daughters, Liz and Mary, what they thought. One by one, they each agreed that we should not delay. “Okay,” I said, “let’s do it.”

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Scribner; 1st edition (October 22, 2013)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 147672539X
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1476725390
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.25 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.25 x 1.25 x 9.25 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,119,840 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #685 in Cardiovascular Diseases (Books)
- #714 in Cardiology (Books)
- #2,225 in US Presidents

Customer Reviews:
4.7 165 ratings

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Krykie

Not what you'd expect

Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2013

Verified Purchase

After reading a sample (the first several pages of the book), I decided to buy the rest right away. The sample pages are a good indicator of the tone and style of the rest of the book.

This is first and foremost a book on the HEART, on cardiology. It is written not just by Cheney, but in parallel with his doctors as well. For this reason, this book is exceptional in its format. Cheney is the patient, and after several heart attacks over the decades, he is extremely familiar with the science of the heart. He describes things as a patient. But he is a politician, not a doctor, so he leaves the more technical and specific descriptions of heart medicine to his co-authors. The book goes back and forth between the POV/writings of the heart doctors and Cheney.

The book is a chronology of Cheney's several heart attacks. He describes what was going on (political context) as he had and recovered from his several cardiac issues. This made the book interesting.... all events most of us will remember. He does not take the opportunity to apologize, justify, or even give any zingers to those with differing political views; it is just a matter of fact recount of what happened when. No political yakking; just context.

Most interesting is the science and progress of the heart, cardiac science, health, etc. The experts in the book recount DaVinci's writings on the heart after an autopsy in the 1500s, of the origin of K-Rations, how FDR had heart issues as well, and about Eisenhower's heart attack while in office. Also, the first heart transplants, valves... all the technology. This is described by the medical authors, not Cheney. Fascinating stuff.

I recommend this book for several reasons: 1) It tells you more about the science of cardiac issues than you ever knew existed, without being too techncial or boring; 2) It recounts history from the seventies forward in little snippets... interesting look into what was going on as a powerful man in our government spent time in the hospital 3) Most important -- it made me much more aware of the most vital of the organs - the heart. I found myself reading the last few chapters on my elliptical machine with my heart rate monitor.... its an amazing organ.

Strongly recommended for the value in becoming aware of the heart, with the interesting parallel of history as a backdrop.

29 people found this helpful

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Kylee

fascinating! Pre-Obamacare Medical Treatment

Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2013

Verified Purchase

I loved this book. First I think Dick Cheney was under valued and this book really exposes his credentials and experience as well as his dedication. But the true purpose of the book is really chronicling the medical advancement in the treatment of heart disease in the US and that is just fascinating reading. Of course, sadly for the average American, we can't really run to the ER every time we feel a pain or not that feeling of 'not quite right' and have such an intense relationship with a doctor nor have such dedicated care.... But in an ideal world it would be nice... I'm sure there are doctors that do but with the way people are losing insurance left and right as a result of the Democrats Obama/Pelosi, we are doomed and will never have a chance at the great care described in this book. But it was a great read for how a segment of the population might get treated.

14 people found this helpful

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joe rooms Author of PRINCE OF THE WILD FRONTIER

You Gotta Have...

Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2013

Verified Purchase

The book's title is quite apt, it has plenty of it.
Dick Cheney is an extremely controversial conservative icon One of the most public figures in American history. As a life long Democrat, my political ideology is as polar opposite as possible, as that of the former Vice President but this gripping story is not about a politician, it is about a miraculous journey. Serious illness is the perfect equalizer, and as we used to say in the Army, everyone puts their pants on one leg at a time.
Heart is written in two perspectives. We are witness to the epic struggles of a critically ill patient, who despite the odds, overcomes chronic heart disease. We learn of the healing effects from the support and love of a remarkable family.
The co author, Dr. Jonathan Reiner M.D. informs us with a timeline, detailing the technological advances in the treatment and care of the human heart. He also removes the surgical mask, and reveals the person behind it.
With each crisis Mr. Cheney faces, a new technique is perfected or an implement is invented to rescue him from death. It read's almost like fiction but it is as serious as (dare I say it) a heart attack. Of which Mr. Cheney has had four, as well as by- pass surgery, a defribrillator implanted in his heart. In his darkest hour, he was kept alive by a transplant.
The story is not without humor. Dr. Reiner expresses embarrassment when uttering an expletive deleted in the OR in the presence of his famous patient. Ironic, when remembering Cheney's infamous salutation to a colleague to, GFY(it doesn't mean Good For You.)
There is a particularly engrossing passage described with pathos by Dr. Reiner. The doctor is observing a man on a respirator providing him his last breaths. Jon Reiner reflects on the generosity of the heart donor and his surviving family. I still get goose bumps thinking about that moving scene.
If you are a reader of both medical science and human interest "Heart" covers both. I particularly appreciated the way the book is laid out. In every situation and event, we hear from Cheney then Reiner, or vice versa.
In the spirit of full disclosure: I have had the pleasure of Dr. Reiner as a customer, and the good fortune to be one of his patients. I can attest, first hand, to the knowledge, humility, and sense of humor of the doctor, as is revealed in this fine book. Dr Jonathan Reiner M.D. is at the top of his profession but is somehow able not to take himself too seriously, It Ia a rare and desirable quality.
ps. Those who used this forum to make personal attacks against Cheney did a major disservice to potential buyers of the book. Shame on Amazon for not flagging their vulgar and childish remarks

Amazon, You are doing a terrible job with your book review
dept. The comment posted below is not even directed at my
review. I wish you would restrict your review participant to
buyers of the given book, eliminating the rhetoric writing nut
jobs who ramble on about their political views, taking space
away from serious readers. i.e. "It's about the book, stupid"
joe rooms joseph Rooms says:
to whom are you directing this comment to ?
Not only did I buy and read "Heart" I gave it a five star rating, I even had it inscribed
by DR. Reiner, Mr.Chaney's co- author

5 people found this helpful

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Cindy Kelly

Fascinating History of Heart Treatment Progress

Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2014

Verified Purchase

Dick Cheney and his cardiologist switch back and forth from Cheney's personal accounts to more medical analysis of his heart condition and remedies, Just-in-time medical breakthroughs arrive to treat Cheney's chronic heart ailments including five heart attacks. What is amazing is Cheney's equanimity through each crisis and determination to take on highly demanding (and one would think stressful) public roles. The parallel story of heart treatment developments over the last five decades is quite remarkable. Entertaining and educational, it leaves you with a sense of magic realism.

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Top reviews from other countries

Amazon Customer

Nice

Reviewed in India on October 24, 2020

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Nice product with very timely delivery

Mr MJ Adami

One Star

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 27, 2014

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Boring!!

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