I recently graduated from my cardiac rehabilitation after my LVAD heart pump surgery. However, the completion of the rehab program does not come with long-lasting benefits. Going home and doing nothing, one would lose fitness in a couple of

Personal Journey

Graduating from Cardiac Rehab

December 17, 2017

4 min read

Somaneh Bouba

With the team, we have set up a transition plan and I devised a Cardiac fitness plan, to remain active and exercising. With the LVAD, I am limited in the activities I may take on, in addition to the intensity I exercise with.

I also started planning for a number of physical goals after the heart transplant. A number of friends run marathons. They have invited me to join them once I am cleared to run again. Of course, I accepted the challenge. 'Qui vivra, verra.'

Next, the transplant community has its own 'Olympic' games, the World Transplant Games (WTG), an international multi-sport event organized by the World Transplant Games Federation. There is also the Transplant Games of America (TGA), gathering thousands of individuals touched by organ, tissue and corneal donation.

I joined the New England team at their last meeting in October. My hope is to participate in the 2019 WTG and be part of the team for the 2020 TGA. Until then, I would be a supporter, Go Team New England!