World's first heart transplant! 

The first human heart transplant was performed in 1967 in South Africa. Dr. Christiaan Barnard did it. The patient lived 18 days and died of a lung infection. 

US's first heart transplant! 

Dr. Shumway performed the first heart transplant in the U.S.A. on an adult patient on January 6, 1968.  He found that one of the major dangers in heart transplants is the body's tendency to reject a new heart.  Patients died only days after the operation. During the 1960's and 70's, Dr. Shumway found better surgical procedures. About 80% of his patients in the 1980's survived at least one year. 

First artificial heart!  

In 1981 Robert Jarvic made the first artificial heart. Then in 1982 the first patient was Barney Clark. The surgeon was William Devieres. Clark died 112 days after the surgery. The artificial heart was called the Jarvic after the maker of it (Robert Jarvic). A number of other patients got the Jarvic heart but none survived past two years.  Now, a different model is used for artificial heart transplants. 

A Newborn Baby Makes History!  

In 1984, a newborn baby made history. The world knew her as Baby Fae. She had a fatal heart condition.  Doctors gave her a baboon's heart. Baby Fae died in a few days, but many scientists believe that baboon hearts offer the best hope for future heart patients.