Dancing His Way to a Transplant

Travale King was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy in 2002 after experiencing chest pains in school.

He received a heart transplant. But his donor heart started to fail, and he went into cardiac failure in August of 2015.

To ensure he could live long enough to receive a second heart, the Ventricular Assist Device team in the Heart Institute at Cincinnati Children's implanted him with a Syndardia Total Artificial Heart while he waited for a transplant.

Travale has danced his way through his struggles. He can whip. And he can nae nae.

His guest list while he spent three months at Cincinnati Children's on the Syndardia was 150 people strong, and included his mom, son and aunt.

A few weeks after he danced with his Total Artificial Heart for this video, Travale had a successful heart transplant.

Now he's ready to nae nae on out of the hospital. 

Trevale King, heart patient: "I was 13. I had a few chest pains, but then a week or two after that, that's when I went - when I came here I went into cardiac arrest."

Narrator: "Trevale king was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy in 2002 after experiencing chest pains in school."

Trevale King: "I know the next day they were in the process of placing the artificial heart and while they had me cut open they found the heart for me and I received my heart."

Narrator: "The very next day he received a heart transplant, but his donor heart started to fail and he went into cardiac failure in August of 2015."

Trevale King: "I was in college and I was feeling short of breath and stuff like that and I came here then they did a biopsy and they found that I had coronary artery disease. I mean they told me eventually I would need a heart transplant but of course they didn't know when, but they just kept close eye and you know, new medications and stuff like that. And I mean it's been like that for five years, until now until I got the Syncardia."

Narrator: "To ensure he could live long enough to receive a second heart the ventricular assist device team in the Heart Institute at Cincinnati Children's implanted him with a Syncardia total artificial heart while he waited for a transplant."

Trevale King: "I just remember going down to surgery. I was happy, you know, I was excited. All I remember is just, you know, they put me to sleep and I know when I woke up and the first question I asked was, “Do I have my heart?” and then they told me, 'No, I went to cardiac arrest.' I mean, of course I don't remember none of that, but I know when I woke up I had the Syncardia."

Narrator: "His guest list while he spent three months at Cincinnati Children’s on the Syncardia was 150 people strong, and included his mom, son and aunt."

Trevale King: "I have a huge support system – huge and strong support system – but I cut that list down to about 30 now. I'm blessed to be here, that's the main thing. ‘Cuz I told y'all, whatever it takes to keep me here, do what you got to do."

Narrator: "Trevale has danced his way through his struggles he can whip and he can nae nae."

Trevale King: "I mean, just life itself, don't take it for granted."

Narrator: "A few weeks after he danced with his total artificial heart for this video, Trevale had a successful heart transplant now he's ready to nae nae on out of the hospital."

Trevale King: "I'm just blessed. I could just say I'm blessed to be here that's all I can say. I'm highly blessed."

(Published October 2015)