Mary and Malcom Campbell feel that the story of Malcolm's artificial heart - the only one in use in Carbon County - is one that should be told so others with congestive heart failure can benefit.

His disease, known as nonischemic cardiomyopathy, developed in 2000 and gradually worsened. Barely able to walk, Malcom received medical care at Lehigh Valley Hospital between 2000 and 2006.Nine to 10 weeks ago, the disease was preventing him from accomplishing even menial tasks. Beta blockers would have helped but they made him sick. The only medication that would have helped was Coreg but he was unable to take that as well.His daughter, Renae, a nurse, suggested he go to Lancaster Hospital to receive the advice of Dr. Doug Gohn. By 2007, it was discovered that Malcom needed a pacemaker and defibrillator. This would saved his life three times.According to Mary, Dr. Gohn "took good care of him."In 2011, a right and left heart catheterization was done. Malcom went through a transesophageal echocardiogram, known as TEE. His heart stopped during the procedure but it was restarted.It was found there was a hole in his heart since birth and that had to be closed before anything else could be done. His heart was getting bigger and the mitral valve was tearing apart.One doctor said there was no hope and gave him six months to a year to live if he returned home. He was put in the heart care intensive ward.A week later, Dr. Mark Burlingame and Dr. Jeffrey Cope met and discussed the use of a new device for Malcom, providing he met all the criteria. He was found to be a good candidate for a left ventricle assist device (LVAD) and the operation was scheduled for the next day, Jan. 20.Because he could not remember anything that was going on, Malcom said "I lost three weeks of my life."Mary added that he even refused to open his eyes for the first two weeks."I was hiding," Malcom joked.His speech was incoherent and he was unable to put sentences together. He refused to walk so one day he went to the hall and saw Mary in a cheerleader outfit with pompoms. It got him laughing and walking.Mary stayed with him during the day and one of their four children would stay overnight, even though it meant leaving spouses to take care of the home front. The children are Renae and husband, Dr. Lorin Hirsch of Lancaster; son Blake and Christine Campbell of Towamensing Township; Tonya and Donald Snyder of Pittsburgh; and Malcom Jr. and Mary Campbell of Parryville.Malcom developed an illeus, a deep-vein blood clot, and needed a second surgery to have a screen put in to prevent the clots from moving to the lungs or the device. Bad nosebleeds required cauterization.Mary became homesick. She spent seven weeks with Renae in Lancaster. Though Malcom was in the hospital for five weeks, he was required to remain in the area for another two weeks after discharge. Actually, the hospital wanted him to stay three weeks but the Campbells wanted to go home.Going to Renae's house brought another major problem for Malcom. He was afraid his dog, Ms. Beazleigh, had forgotten him after five weeks. But when he came to the house and stepped out of the car Beazleigh ran and wrapped her legs around him in a hug."I'm happy it's working. My extremities and mind have improved," Malcom said.There are three forms available for the device Malcom received: bridge to recovery, bridge to transplant or bridge to destiny. The bridge to destiny is the one he received."I tell you what. I don't want one they'll have to take out again. I don't think I'd have made it without all the care I had and the prayers. Lancaster Hospital was top notch," he said.Pastor Nancy Moore of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, North Weissport, was one of his visitors.Mary adds that without the four children they would not have made it. They were there for the duration and no one complained.Malcom also says he couldn't have done it without his wife, who he calls his angel Mary.Another recipient, George Maxwell, who had received a device of the same type, came in and talked to them for 1-1/2 hours so they had a better idea of what to expect.They talked to Jon Echterling, the LVAD coordinator. He and Dr. Lorin Hirsch are on call 24 hours a day in case of an emergency."They are my safety link. All we have to do is call with a problem," said Malcom.Renae suggested they keep a daily journal until he came home. On March 21, Mary gave it to him and he was amazed at all that he went through.A goal was to see his granddaughter, Lauren, play softball. Although only a freshman with the Palmerton team, she is the varsity catcher. He has seen her scrimmage twice since coming home. Although there are other grandchildren, the others are too far away for him to go to their sports events.The LVAD coordinator told him he had to contact local EMS units and the state police so they would know what to do in an emergency. Malcom has neither pulse nor blood pressure and in the case of an accident he could be passed over as being dead.The Campbells are on a list with PPL for houses to have electricity restored quickly. Although he has batteries, they need recharging and he is plugged in to the electrical system overnight. A generator has too many spikes to be used.They have six batteries and an emergency pack. There are two extra batteries and a system controller. One large battery is for emergency use. It is good for eight hours and the replacement cost is $5,000.The vest he was given to carry the batteries and controller was uncomfortable and Tonya found one on the Internet that was more comfortable. She is making him a vest in camouflage.With a special bag to protect the electronics he is able to take showers."Nothing is as good as a hot shower," he said.The dressing has to be changed every three days at a cost of $18 that Medicare does not pay. When changing it, Mary has to wear a mask, hairnet and gloves.The closest hospital for emergency care is Geisinger of Wyoming Valley.According to the Internet the device will one day become a normal way of treating end-stage congestive heart failure.