The Nation - News from Feb. 15, 1985
Mechanical heart patient William J. Schroeder, improved after being plagued by fever, exchanged Valentine’s Day cards with his wife of 33 years and celebrated a 53rd birthday that he had never expected to see. Schroeder, who was convinced that he was dying when he agreed to become the world’s second permanent artificial heart recipient on Nov. 25, felt well enough after his bout with flu-like symptoms to join 50 doctors, nurses and hospital staff members in the auditorium of Humana Hospital Audubon in Louisville, Ky., for a birthday celebration.
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