Patient Stories 2015-10-09 Jim's BiVAD Procedure Main Article Content Breadcrumb navigation All/Patient Stories/Jim Armstrong Heart Procedure Breakthrough I couldn’t feel my heartbeat. I'd never felt so alive. A first-of-its-kind procedure supports a failing heart. While preparing for an annual boat race, Jim Armstrong suddenly found his health spiraling out of control. The specialists at Northwestern Medicine's Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute discovered that due to severe heart failure, a revolutionary procedure was his only hope. Cardiac surgeons implanted two completely pulseless devices to support his heart, leaving Jim without a pulse for four months until he underwent a successful heart transplant—and one incredible recovery. Interested in hearing more from Northwestern Medicine? Sign up for the Healthy Tips E‑Newsletter for everything from health and wellness ideas to patient breakthroughs to academic and medical advancements. 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