Houston VA Left Ventricular Assist Device team provides Lifesaving Support to Air Force Veteran

Bruce Metoyer, who relies on a Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) he received at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston a few years ago, experienced a malfunction that sent his LVAD beeping urgently, indicating something was wrong. 

With his daughter Hannah at the wheel and his four-year-old granddaughter Riley in the back seat, they knew they had to act quickly. Hannah pulled over to the side of the road and immediately called the dedicated team at the Houston VA, the lifeline they had come to trust. Erwin Bedia, LVAD Nurse Practitioner, answered the phone and sprang into action, gathering fellow LVAD nurses Verna Deinla, and Jocelyn Revilla to help troubleshoot the problem. 

“I knew immediately it was a very serious situation,” Bedia said. “Mr. Metoyer’s LVAD system controller was having a low voltage alarm that did not resolve despite good connections and new sets of battery power and battery clips. The LVAD internal backup battery can only power for 15 minutes and it sure didn’t help that they were on the side of the road, far from help.” 

Lifesaving Support

Bedia and his fellow LVAD nurses provided calm reassurance and expert guidance, staying on the phone with the family while Hannah drove to the emergency room in Natchitoches, LA. 

Upon arrival at the ER, the Houston VA team didn’t just leave the family to navigate the situation on their own. Coordinating with the local ER doctors via FaceTime, they expertly demonstrated to the ER staff how to change the device and were able to successfully fix it. Metoyer was later airlifted to Houston, where he and his LVAD got a thorough check up and both received a clean bill of health.  

“It was amazing to see how the VA team advocated for me,” Metoyer said. “They made sure the ER doctors knew exactly what to do. Without them, I don’t know what would have happened.”

Before receiving the LVAD, a mechanical pump that helps the left ventricle of the heart pump blood to the rest of the body, Metoyer was left fatigued and limited in his daily activities. His congestive heart failure was getting worse, which prompted his local VA in Louisiana to refer him to Houston for advanced treatment. After LVAD surgery, he would eventually experience a surge of energy. With his youngest daughter, Mariah, at his side during his initial admission, Metoyer was able to regain quality of life. 

“I can keep up so much better with my grandchildren,” he said.

Bruce, Mariah, and Hannah expressed their heartfelt appreciation for the continuous support they receive from the Houston VA, emphasizing that having a dependable team available 24/7 is invaluable. 

According to Deinla, the Houston VA LVAD team is committed to being there for each and every Veteran patient at a moment’s notice. 

“We want our Veterans to live their lives with confidence, knowing that help is always just a phone call away,” she said. “Mr. Metoyer and his family are part of our Houston VA family and always will be. It was our pleasure to help.”