1. Provide the title of your story or series and the names of the journalists involved.
Longest Living Artificial Heart Patient Goes Home
Dr. Jennifer Ashton, correspondent; Amy Burkholder, producer; Katie Boyle, senior producer; Pam Auerbach, coordinating producer
2. List date(s) this work was published or aired.
Friday May 20th, 2010 / CBS Evening News with Katie Couric http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/05/21/eveningnews/main6507572.shtml
3. Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
After spending nearly 2 years in the hospital tethered to an artificial heart, 43 year old Charles Okeke became the first person to test – in a clinical trial – a 'freedom driver' 12 pound total artificial heart. It has allowed him to return home to his wife and three children, while a suitable donor heart is located.
4. Explain types of documents, data or internet resources used. Were foi or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
CBS News in NY made several trips to Okeke at Mayo Clinic in Arizona; to be there for the climatic moment he was switched from the 400 pound behemoth heart, to the back-packed sized freedom driver; to the long-anticipated moment of his discharge. We also captured the moment he was welcomed home by his family.
5. Explain types of human sources used.
Mayo Clinic ; FDA; Syncardia; independent cardiologists; Charles Okeke, wife Natalie & extended family & children.
6. Results (if any).
Terrific feedback.
7. Follow-up (if any). Have you run a correction or clarification on the report or has anyone come forward to challenge its accuracy? If so, please explain.
None
8. Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
You need a strong pitch to get support from a budget-conscious network on a story like this: it's rarely glitch-free with a patient trying a new medical device, and it's hard to anticipate a timeline; we ended up bringing crews in from New York and LA several times. It was also a tricky negotiation to win patient involvement; while Mayo Clinic was helpful, it took a lot of additional gentle persuasion to convince Charles our crews could be unobtrusive during such a tenuous, emotional moment. He wanted the transition to be about his love for his family; and to help other patients who've lived their lives in the hospital with few options as they await a heart transplant — not all about him. I believe we helped him accomplish that.