From weddings to holiday dinners, movie theaters to music concerts, there’s no denying the power of shared experiences. And sometimes, something as simple as coming together to watch a football game can be a life-changing event.
Just ask the Abbott HeartMates who met up in Buffalo, N.Y., for the inaugural HeartMates Field Pass event, which included not one, but two appearances by program ambassador and Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin.
Hamlin, who made a remarkable comeback from sudden cardiac arrest during a game in 2023, has been a part of Abbott HeartMates since the program first started building a community for people impacted by cardiovascular conditions.
The event kicked off midweek when a group of HeartMates local to the Buffalo area got a behind-the-scenes tour of Highmark Stadium, the Bills’ home turf, with Hamlin on hand to show them around and pose for pictures on the field.
A few days later, a handful of additional HeartMates arrived in Buffalo for a weekend that was all about building community, fostering connections and supporting Hamlin as he and the Bills faced off against the Tennessee Titans. After making a key interception during the game (that ended with the Bills beating the Titans 34-10), Hamlin surprised HeartMates by joining their farewell dinner.
While watching the live action on the field was undeniably a highlight, the opportunity to bond with other people with cardiovascular conditions is what these HeartMates said they’ll treasure most.
“I have a great support system outside of HeartMates, but there is nothing quite like meeting a person who knows exactly what you’re going through,” says Ashley Grenier of Elbridge, N.Y., who was diagnosed with congestive heart failure, among other conditions, in 2016 and later received Abbott’s CardioMEMS HF System.
“Even if your diagnoses aren’t exactly the same, there is a shared connection with someone who is dealing with a chronic illness like you are. It almost brings tears to my eyes because it’s just nice to sit and be in the presence of other people who truly understand the struggles, the triumphs and the journey you’ve been on. It’s kind of like a family.”
Nine years ago, Lynda Marino of East Amherst, N.Y., experienced sudden cardiac arrest while driving and, after a long period of cardiovascular care, received the AVEIR DR Dual Chamber Leadless Pacemaker System. She says that Field Pass was meaningful not just for HeartMates, but also their families.
“This was an amazing opportunity for my husband, who has been by my side these nine years, to meet other husbands that are going through this journey with their wives,” she says. “I can’t tell you what this experience has meant to both of us. And truly, survivors understand each other in a way that nobody else can, so it’s beyond our wildest dreams to be here.”
Community. Connection. The support of a team.
This is what Abbott HeartMates is all about.
About Abbott HeartMates
The Abbott HeartMates program celebrates the bravery in those with cardiovascular conditions, the teams of families, friends and caregivers who support them, and the heroes providing the medical care need to help people make their comeback.
For more information about Abbott HeartMates, visit HeartMates.Abbott.
Important safety information
AVEIR™ DR
CardioMEMS™ HF System
Rx Only
Indications for Use
Brief Summary: Prior to using these devices, please review the Instructions for Use for a complete listing of indications, contraindications, warnings, precautions, potential adverse events and directions for use.
CardioMEMS™ HF System Indications and Usage: The CardioMEMS HF System is indicated for wirelessly measuring and monitoring pulmonary artery pressure and heart rate in NYHA Class II or III heart failure patients who either have been hospitalized for heart failure in the previous year and/or have elevated natriuretic peptides. The hemodynamic data are used by physicians for heart failure management with the goal of controlling pulmonary artery pressures and reducing heart failure hospitalizations.
CardioMEMS HF System Contraindications: The CardioMEMS HF System is contraindicated for patients with an inability to take dual antiplatelet or anticoagulants for one month post implant.
CardioMEMS HF System Adverse Events: Potential adverse events associated with the implantation procedure include, but are not limited to, the following: air embolism, allergic reaction, infection, delayed wound healing, arrhythmias, bleeding, hemoptysis, hematoma, nausea, cerebrovascular accident, thrombus, cardiovascular injury, myocardial infarction, death, embolization, thermal burn, cardiac perforation, pneumothorax, thoracic duct injury and hemothorax.
AVEIR™ DR
Rx Only
Brief Summary: Prior to using these devices, please review the Instructions for Use for a complete listing of indications, contraindications, warnings, precautions, potential adverse events and directions for use.
Indications: The Aveir™ Leadless Pacemaker system is indicated for management of one or more of the following permanent conditions: Syncope, Pre-syncope, Fatigue, Disorientation. Rate-modulated pacing is indicated for patients with chronotropic incompetence, and for those who would benefit from increased stimulation rates concurrent with physical activity. Dual-chamber pacing is indicated for patients exhibiting: Sick sinus syndrome, Chronic, symptomatic second- and third-degree AV block, Recurrent Adams-Stokes syndrome, Symptomatic bilateral bundle-branch block when tachyarrhythmia and other causes have been ruled out. Atrial pacing is indicated for patients with: Sinus node dysfunction and normal AV and intraventricular conduction systems. Ventricular pacing is indicated for patients with: Significant bradycardia and normal sinus rhythm with only rare episodes of AV block or sinus arrest, Chronic atrial fibrillation, Severe physical disability.
Intended Use: The Aveir™ Leadless Pacemaker (LP) is designed to provide bradycardia pacing as a pulse generator with built-in battery and electrodes for implantation in the right ventricle and/or right atrium. The LP is intended to provide sensing of intrinsic cardiac signals and delivery of cardiac pacing therapy within the implanted chamber for the target treatment group. The LP is also intended to operate optionally with another co-implanted LP to provide dual-chamber pacing therapy.
The Aveir™ Delivery Catheter is intended to be used in the peripheral vasculature and the cardiovascular system to deliver and manipulate an LP. Delivery and manipulation includes implanting an LP within the target chamber of the heart.
Contraindications: Use of the Aveir™ Leadless Pacemaker is contraindicated in these cases:
Adverse Events: Potential complications associated with the use of the Aveir™ Leadless Pacemaker system are the same as with the use of single or dual chamber pacemakers with active fixation pacing leads including, but not limited to: Cardiac perforation, Cardiac tamponade, Pericardial effusion, Pericarditis, Valve damage and/or regurgitation, Heart failure, Pneumothorax/hemothorax, Cardiac arrhythmias, Diaphragmatic/phrenic nerve stimulation / extra-cardiac stimulation, Palpitations, Hypotension, Syncope, Cerebrovascular accident, Infection, Hypersensitivity reaction to device materials, contrast media, medications, or direct toxic effect of contrast media on kidney function, Pacemaker syndrome, Inability to interrogate or program the LP due to programmer or LP malfunction, Intermittent or complete loss of pacing and/or sensing due to dislodgement or mechanical malfunction of the LP (non-battery related), Loss of capture or sensing due to embolization or fibrotic tissue response at the electrode, Increased capture threshold, Inappropriate sensor response, Interruption of desired LP function due to electrical interference, either electromyogenic or electromagnetic, Battery malfunction/ premature battery depletion, Device-related complications (Premature deployment, Device dislodgement/embolization of foreign material, Helix distortion), Death. As with any percutaneous catheterization procedure, potential complications include, but are not limited to: Vascular access complications; such as perforation, dissection, puncture, groin pain, Bleeding or hematoma, Thrombus formation, Thromboembolism, Air embolism, Local and systemic infection, Peripheral nerve damage. General surgery risks and complications from comorbidities; such as hypotension, dyspnea, respiratory failure, syncope, pneumonia, hypertension, cardiac failure, reaction to sedation, renal failure, anemia, and death.
MAT-2306873 v1.0 | Item is approved for US Use
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