Anaheim Man, 52, Undergoes Heart Transplant in San Diego
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SAN DIEGO — A 52-year-old Anaheim man who built the first flight simulator Monday became the fifth person to receive a heart transplant at Sharp Memorial Hospital, a hospital spokesman said.
Jimmie L. Lewis received the new heart after a four-hour operation, hospital spokesman Ed Crawford said. Lewis was listed in critical condition, but there were no complications from the surgery and Lewis is not expected to reject the new organ.
According to Crawford, Lewis built the first flight simulator for United Airlines in Denver. He also built the only locomotive simulator in Southern California, said Crawford, but he was not sure when the two projects were completed.
Lewis and his wife, Gloria, have a son, 23, and a daughter, 21.
The transplant was done by a team led by Drs. Aidan Raney and Douglas Zusman. Raney and Zusman performed more than 50 transplants at Stanford University Hospital and have been involved in all of the transplants performed at Sharp, Crawford said.
Three of the five heart recipients have been discharged from the hospital. The fourth patient is still hospitalized after receiving his heart three weeks ago but is expected to be released soon, Crawford said.
The donor for Lewis’ transplant was identified only as a Southern California resident.
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