The Man Who Lived Without a Heart for Over a Year: A True Medical Miracle

Imagine living every day without a heartbeat, without a pulse—without a human heart at all. It sounds like something out of a science fiction novel, but for Stan Larkin, a young man from Michigan, this was his reality for 555 days.

Larkin became one of the first people in the world to live without a heart for over a year, thanks to an experimental artificial heart-in-a-backpack device. His survival was a testament to the power of modern medicine, human resilience, and scientific breakthroughs that could change the future of heart failure treatment.

This is his incredible true story.

Stan Larkin was just a teenager when he began experiencing symptoms that would change his life forever. He had always been active, playing basketball with his friends, enjoying sports, and living a normal life. But something felt off.

One day, while playing basketball, he suddenly collapsed on the court. His heart was racing, his breathing was shallow, and he felt like he was about to pass out. His family rushed him to the hospital, where doctors ran a series of tests.

The shocking diagnosis? Familial cardiomyopathy, a rare genetic condition that weakens the heart muscle and can lead to sudden cardiac arrest.

Stan wasn’t the only one in his family with this condition—his brother, Dominique, was also diagnosed with the same disease. The doctors told them their hearts were failing, and without a transplant, they would not survive.

A Heart Transplant—But No Donor in Sight

A heart transplant was the only long-term solution, but there was a major problem: There weren’t enough donor hearts available.

Every year, thousands of people die while waiting for a heart transplant because of the severe shortage of organ donors. Doctors had to find another way to keep Stan alive until a donor heart became available.

That’s when they introduced him to something that had never been attempted on a young, active patient before—a completely artificial heart that could be carried in a backpack.

The Total Artificial Heart: Living Without a Pulse

Instead of relying on a biological heart, Stan was given a SynCardia Total Artificial Heart, a revolutionary device designed for patients in end-stage heart failure.

How Did It Work?

● The device replaced his entire failing heart with two mechanical pumps.

● These pumps were connected to an external machine that regulated blood flow.

● The machine was powered by a portable device that he carried in a backpack every day.

The most mind-blowing part? Stan had no pulse.

The artificial heart pumped blood continuously, unlike a normal heart, which beats rhythmically. This meant that when doctors checked his pulse, they felt nothing—yet his blood was still circulating, keeping him alive.

555 Days Without a Heart: A Life Like No Other

For the next 555 days, Stan lived without a heart inside his chest. Instead, he relied on the machine in his backpack to keep him alive.

His doctors warned him to be careful, but Stan didn’t want to just survive—he wanted to live.

Daily Life with an Artificial Heart

▪︎Basketball: Despite his condition, Stan continued to shoot hoops, carefully managing his backpack as he played.

▪︎Going out in public: He often received strange looks from people who noticed the tubes and machine keeping him alive.

▪︎Sleeping: He had to sleep carefully, ensuring his device was always connected and functioning.

▪︎Emergencies: If anything went wrong with the device, he had only minutes to get help.

Stan later admitted that at times, he felt like a cyborg, relying on technology to survive. But he never lost hope.

The Long-Awaited Heart Transplant

After nearly two years of living with the artificial heart, Stan finally received the call that would change his life—a donor heart had become available.

In May 2016, he underwent a successful heart transplant at the University of Michigan Frankel Cardiovascular Center. The surgery was a success, and for the first time in nearly two years, his chest was no longer empty.

When Stan woke up and felt his new heart beating, he described it as "the most incredible feeling."

A Medical Breakthrough: The Future of Artificial Hearts

Stan’s survival was not just a personal victory—it was a medical breakthrough.

Doctors and scientists are now working on fully implantable artificial hearts that won’t require external machines, potentially solving the global organ donor shortage.

What This Means for the Future:

Artificial hearts could one day be a permanent alternative to human heart transplants. More people with end-stage heart failure may get a second chance at life. New technology could create smaller, more efficient heart devices.

Stan became a symbol of hope, proving that science can achieve the impossible.

Where Is Stan Larkin Now?

After his transplant, Stan returned to a normal life, free from the backpack that had kept him alive for over a year. He has become an advocate for heart health awareness, sharing his story to inspire others.

His journey is a testament to human strength, medical innovation, and the incredible resilience of the human body.

A Heartless Hero

Stan Larkin’s story is nothing short of extraordinary. He was a man who lived without a heart, relying on a machine in a backpack to survive for 555 days.

His journey teaches us that medical science is evolving, and the impossible is becoming possible. While he was lucky to receive a donor heart, his story raises awareness about the importance of organ donation and the future of artificial heart technology.

Would you ever consider donating your organs to help save a life like Stan’s? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!