SENIORS' STORIES
(from the Living Proof website)  

Seniors nationwide are sharing their stories with us.

SHARE YOUR STORY

The Living Proof project is a national public awareness campaign designed to build understanding of and support for medical research among our senior citizens.

You can help raise awareness about vital medical research by sharing your personal story. 

Have you been a beneficiary of medical research?  If you or a loved one has been helped through medical advances thanks to research, share your story with America and the world here. 

Do you remember how things used to be?  You may also wish to remember someone who has passed away, before life-saving advances became available to hospitals and physicians - or because we have not yet solved the medical problem that afflicted them.

Your story is important.  Share it with others through the Living Proof project.

SUBMIT STORY ONLINE

Read some of these stories here.

John McCain, Living Strong

John Gaughan

On June 4, 1964, when I was 33 years of age, I had a Starr-Edwards Aortic mechanical valve implanted at St. Mary’s Hospital in Tucson, Arizona. My surgeon was Dr. Robert Anderson.

This valve is still “click-clicking” along and has never been replaced! I am now 72 and this year was the 40th anniversary of the operation.

When I was six and eight, I had attacks of rheumatic fever which left me with a heart murmur. At 28, an attack of Sub Acute Bacterial Endocarditus almost ended my life. Penicillin saved my life.

Within the past five years I had a pacemaker implanted, two attacks of Congested Heart Failure, which brought on Pneumonia (or it could be the other way around), one TIA and Acute Anemia when I needed five pints of blood.

Why am I still alive? Medical research, dedicated doctors, nurses and the allied health professionals are the answer.

Thank you for giving me this opportunity to tell my story about how medical research not only impacted, but saved my life and like a Duracell battery, is keeping me alive and well.

Note: On April 3,2001 Mr. Gaughan was invited to speak at the 1st Anniversary of the Edwards LifeSciences Corporation in Irvine, California. It is believed that Mr. Gaughan’s valve may be the oldest or second oldest Starr-Edwards valve not to be replaced.