Anna enjoying her freedom from VPAP on a hike Anna was born in Denmark in 1996 and was diagnosed with CCHS at 11 months old. This meant that she had to use a VPAP bi-level machine as her primary means of ventilation, until she was implanted with the Avery Diaphragm Pacing System [...]
Carl with his grandson, Cash. Both now use the Avery Diaphragm Pacemaker. Carl used to wake up in the morning “still tired, groggy and feeling fuzzy”. He discussed his experiences with his daughter, Tracey, and described feeling like he “had not slept at all”. Consultations with doctors did not result in any clear [...]
Dalen enjoying life with the Avery Pacemaker In 2002, at the age of 52, Dalen fell from a ladder and was rendered a C2 quadriplegic and ventilator dependent. In 2014, Dalen was implanted with the Avery Diaphragm Pacemaker to replace his mechanical ventilator. He is now pacing 24/7 and is enjoying his [...]
Elise has Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome (CCHS). Because Elise would get at least two infections a year, her doctor recommended the Avery Diaphragm Pacemaker. In November 2012, Elise was implanted at the Tulane University Hospital by Dr. Steiner. Six weeks after being implanted, Elise was pacing nine hours a night. Elise was also able to [...]
Cassandra after graduating medical school In 2011, Cassandra started having several cases of pneumonia which led to a diagnosis of hypersensitive pneumonitis. Even though the doctors were not 100% sure of what Cassandra had, they referred to it as Acquired Central Hypoventilation Syndrome. Cassandra was sent to Uppsala Sweden because the doctors there [...]
Libanier enjoying life with the Avery Pacemaker Libanier was only 6 years old when he was hit by a car. Even though he experienced a typical childhood, at the age of 16 he began to feel very weak and was diagnosed with post traumatic syringomyelia. In June 2014, while traveling to the [...]
Chandler after her high school graduation Chandler was born with myelomeningocele (a type of spina bifida) and requires mechanical ventilation to breathe. At age 5, she was implanted with the Avery Diaphragm Pacemaker. Since then, she has enjoyed all the freedoms that pacing has allowed—she moves freely about her home, school classrooms [...]
Marliné competing in show jumping Marliné was born prematurely in South Africa in 2011. She was diagnosed with Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome (CCHS). Searching for an alternative to mechanical ventilation, her mother, Annalize, was referred to Dr. Martin Bruwer, a Cardiothoracic Surgeon in South Africa. Marliné as a young child Dr. [...]
David enjoying life with the Avery Pacemaker Any time David went into a relaxed state his O2 levels would drop. This led to his diagnosis of Adult Onset Hypoventilation Syndrome (Central Sleep Apnea). In October 2014, David was implanted by Dr. Samuel Chesier at Stanford University Medical Center to allow him freedom [...]
Monica finishing a 5k with her friends Monica suffered damage to the upper motor neuron portion of her right-side phrenic nerve and was diagnosed with unilateral diaphragm paralysis. In May 2015, she was implanted with the Avery Diaphragm Pacemaker by Dr. Don Headley at St Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona. Monica states, “the [...]
