On August 14 and 15, 2008 I visited with John Stapleton at the University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, NY where he is waiting for a heart. John was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy and hospitalized June 6th 2007 at St. Joesph's Hospital in Syracuse, New York. When it became apparent to his doctors that John would need a cardiac transplant, he was referred to University of Rochester Medical Center. Due to his heart working at only 8% of it’s potential, two VAD (vascular assist device) pumps were put in his body to assist his weak heart. Though he is currently waiting in the hospital for a heart, John lived at home with his VAD system for 8 months.


     My photographs are presented here in the hopes of celebrating and demystifying the exquisite technology that is currently keeping John alive. I was especially inspired by the ways in which John embraces and negotiates his situation with a positive attitude. Each slide show is accompanied by an audio file of John sharing some piece of his current story.


          Thank you John for your gracious hospital-ity and being such a generous teacher.

                                                                                                                              Barbara Gates

To view each segment simply click on the movie controller “play” button - the triangle in the bottom left corner - below each black box. If anyone can explain how to get the poster frame feature to work in iWeb, I’d be very appreciative. Currently there are two slide shows. I will be adding additional slide shows as they are completed.

Photographs

on this site by

Barbara Gates

© 2008

all rights

reserved