Liu Naotala

Liu was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure in 2003, in 2007 he was diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation; he received his first pacemaker/defibrillator in 2011.  In April Liu had two heart surgeries at Cedars-Sinai to preserve his heart, Mitral Clips placement to correct severe Mitral Regurgitation and Cardiomems for increased monitoring of his heart pressures.  Unfortunately, his heart was unable to be preserved and on 5/6/19 Liu had a Total Artificial Heart (TAH) placed. They removed his heart and replaced it with a TAH, a pump that will move blood through the body.  But then, God heard our prayers and stepped in making Liu a miracle. Liu was on the transplant list for two days. On May 19,2019 Liu received a heart and kidney transplant. On 6/5/19 two days before Liu turned 46 he was discharged. For the next 2 1/2 months Liu continued dialysis twice a week for his "sleepy kidney" with weekly Cedar's visits for Heart Transplant and Kidney Transplant follow up  3x/week for the first month, 2x/week the second month; until he tapered to weekly visits. During this time 2 Nephrostomy tubes were placed for fluid around his kidney, several medication changes were made; and side effects to medications became a part of life. In August Liu was hospitalized for 12 days for gaining 30 pounds in 2 days.  Cellular Chronic Kidney Rejection was the diagnosis after kidney biopsy, anti rejection medications were administered aggressively to attempt to save the kidney.  On 9/16/19 Liu was admitted to the hospital for chest pain; osteomyelitis is suspected from his open heart surgeries in May. Liu has two surgeries and 90% of his sternum was removed. On 2/20/20 Liu went back to the hospital for fluid overload. Liu is currently in the hospital at Cedars Sinai with no discharge date.