Johnny Stephens Jan.5, 1959---Jan.27, 2012

[Duffey]

Bina's post:

Some very sad news to share, Johnny Stephens has passed away.
"The lovely and talented" Johnny was a member of vr.org since 2002
and shared and endured many health issues along with his sense of humour
and love of life.
Johnny had double valve replacements in April 2002, followed by a
pacemaker implant in 2005. Diabetes got hold of him, and some permanent
heart damage from previous radiation treatments proved to be difficult to overcome.
Johnny was in the process of having an artificial heart implanted when he passed
away shortly thereafter.
He will be missed by many who remember his presence on our VR forum.

This is a post written by Johnny's wife on another cardiac forum :

I am so sorry to tell you that Johnny did not survive the surgery. He
never woke up, because they were going to take 24 hours to do the close
the chest to ensure there were no problems with bleeding, so he stayed
under anesthesia. I am so sorry to tell you that he passed away Friday
morning 1/27/12.
I am still in shock. The surgeon was so confident, and although it was
high risk, I really expected he would make it. I worked so hard to get
this chance for him. The choices were the total artificial heart, which
he could get right away and start healing his kidneys and liver with no
wait for a heart, or the "maybes" that Mayo offered him (I can't
remember if I explained this), or to exit the hospital to hospice and
dialysis.
He chose the total artificial heart. We knew it was high risk. It was
his best chance. He wanted to be remembered as the guy went for it. He
wanted to live, for us.

 

[Duffey]

My sincere condolences go out to Johnny's family on their loss. He will be sorely missed.
Thank you, Bina, for letting us know.

 

[Bina]

Extending my sympathy and condolences to the family of -The Lovely and Talented-Johnny Stephens.
May he rest in peace and share his lovely spirit in Heaven.
Thanks to Mary for this thread.

 

[Guest]

Heard about this the other day on FB.

Very sad news; he will be missed greatly. Thoughts/prayers en route....



Cort | 38.m.IL | pigValve + paceMaker + cowValve | 5 MCs + 1 Caprice Classic
CHD.MCs.CC + RoadTrips.hobbies.RadioShows.us66 = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"My time here is over" __ Patty Loveless __ 'How Can I Help You Say Goodbye?'

 

[nngbwh]

So sad to hear. Sympathy and condolences to the family.

 

[Adrienne]

I am very sorry to hear about this. My sympathies.

 

[Greg a]

He wanted to be remembered as the guy went for it. He
wanted to live, for us.[/I]

And so we should remember him ...........RIP

 

[Lynlw]

Oh I am so sorry to hear this. i didn't know he was going thru such a tough time. He will be missed by many.

 

[camgough]

My thoughts and prayers with the family....

 

[epstns]

As I said on the other site, Johnny was one of the folks who helped me to deal with my situation when I was first diagnosed. I will sincerely miss him. He fought the good fight.

 

[escargome]

My condolences to the family. He took a chance and the outcome was not what he or his family were expecting, but HE TOOK A CHANCE....

 

[Sarah_Louise]

So sorry to read this, thinking of his family and those close to him,
Fly high Johnny,
Love Sarah xxxxxx

 

[mainframe]

I remember visiting Johnny in his hospital room during an angiogram a couple of days before his VR surgery in 2002. I had already been through my first VR a few weeks before with the same surgeon as Johnnys. I'm glad to have met him. He was a good guy who will definetely be missed.

 

[njean]

So sad....he was still so young. My sincere condolences to all of Johnny's family.

Rest in Peace, Johnny.

 

[tobagotwo]

Johnny Stephens...

When the odds were stacked against him, he went for all of it. If I'm ever in that situation, I hope I will do so well.

He is missed; and he will be missed. He will live always with us. Johnny Stephens: the Lovely person and Talented soul.

My heartfelt sympathy goes out to his family and to all of his friends.

Very best wishes,

 

[Cris N]

Sorry to read of this news. My condolences to all.

 

[sylviayasgur]

we are so sorry to hear of johnny's passing. may he rest in peace.
our sympathies are with his family; you are in our thoughts.

 

[LUVMyBirman]

So sad to hear this news. My condolances to the family. He will be missed.

 

[Kathy McCain]

Sorry to hear of his passing, much too young.

 

[ShezaGirlie]

What a "lovely and talented" guy who had such a great sense of humor. You will be missed Johnny..