BBC Learning English

6 Minute English

A new lease of life

NB: This is not a word for word transcript

Alice:

Hello, I'm Alice.

Finn:

And I'm Finn.

Alice:

And this is 6 Minute English! This week were talking about an amazing
scientific achievement its called a total artificial heart.

Finn:

Thats a heart thats made completely artificially in fact its made of plastic.
Something artificial is something that isnt real.

Alice:

This total artificial heart has given a new lease of life to a patient in the United
States so before we find out more, Finn, I have a question for you. Which of
these creatures has the slowest heartbeat? Ready?

Finn:

OK, Im ready!

Alice:

A, an elephant, b, a human being or c, a dog.

Finn:

Hmm Im really not sure about that. Do different size dogs have different
heartbeats I wonder, Alice?

Alice:

I dont know! I only know which of them has the slowest heartbeat and Ill
give you the answer at the end of the programme. So lets find out more about
this total artificial heart. Heres heart doctor, cardiologist Dr Doug

6 Minute English

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Horstmanshof talking about his patient, Troy Golden, a pastor from the United
States who was born with a serious heart condition.

Insert 1: Dr Doug Horstmanshof

He suffers from a disease called Marfan's syndrome that he was born with. Physically,
He wasn't even able to get out of bed anymore, could barely bear weights, could barely
breathe comfortably. Emotionally, mentally, spiritually - he had reached a point so low
that most of us can't even imagine.

Alice:

Dr Doug Horstmanshof says his patient suffered badly from his disease. He
had reached a point so low that most of us cant even imagine.

Finn:

A point so low a condition that is so bad you cant imagine things getting any
worse.

Alice:

Troy Golden was physically, emotionally, spiritually and mentally exhausted.

He had been put on a list for a heart transplant in January 2010 but couldnt
find a donor.

Finn:

A donor somebody who gives you something, in this case a human heart.
Somebody who donates a heart or a liver or kidney is called an organ donor.

Alice:

And Troys heart was in such a bad condition a normal heart pump wouldnt
work for him, so Dr Horstmanshof decided to do something incredible in
September 2010. He removed his patients heart completely and replaced it

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with a plastic heart the total artificial heart. It contains valves, a pump and
also batteries to keep it powered.
Finn:

So that was September 2010 Troy Golden has had his new heart for several
months now. How has it been functioning?

Alice:

Lets hear what he says.

Insert 2: Troy Golden

Yeah, I really have got to the point that I don't even really notice it, other than it's loud.
So... I think for my wife it feels, to her, she can hear it beating so she knows I'm alive, so
it's very comforting to her.

Alice:

Troy Golden says his wife can hear the heart beating, and she finds the sound
very comforting.

Finn:

Comforting it makes her feel safe and secure.

Alice:

And Troy Golden says hes got to a point where he doesnt really notice his
new heart.

Finn:

Hes got to a point where he doesnt notice his new heart, which means hes
got used to it.

Alice:

Another doctor, Dr Kevin Fong, a Consultant Anaesthetist at University

College Hospital in London, says the total artificial heart is almost
unbelievable he calls it mind-blowing.

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Insert 3: Dr Kevin Fong

It's mind-blowing to think that where he once had a heart, there's now a mechanical
device; that it's been replaced with plastic and tubes attached to a pneumatic pump
inside the rucksack on his back.

Alice:

Dr Kevin Fong, a Consultant Anaesthetist from University College Hospital in

London, describing the mechanical device which is keeping Troy Golden alive.

Finn:

A pneumatic pump now, a pneumatic pump is an air pump, and this one is
kept in a rucksack on the patients back.

Alice:

Troy Golden carries the rucksack on his back, and he says its great to know
his heart is pumping. He says its wonderful to feel alive again.

Insert 4: Troy Golden

It is great to know that my that the heart is pumping, that my heart is pumping. I
guess it's not mine, but it is wonderful to feel alive again.

Alice:

Troy Golden who has been given a new lease of life with his total artificial
heart.

Finn:

A new lease of life thats new energy and a new sense of happiness.

Alice:

So, before we go today, Finn have you had a chance to think about my
question about the heart rates of different creatures.

Finn:

6 Minute English

Well, I think the bigger the animal the slower the heartbeat, so Im going to go

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for elephant.
Alice:

Ah, well done very good! Apparently an elephants heart beats only 25 times
a minute, a human being, usually between about 60 and 90 times a minute, and
a dog, between 100 and 150 heartbeats every minute!

Finn:

There you go.

Alice:

Yes. So, a chance to hear some of the words and phrases. Finn, would you
mind?

Finn:

artificial
a new lease of life
heartbeat
comforting
got to a point
mind-blowing
pneumatic
rucksack

Alice:

Thanks for that, Finn.

Finn:

Youre welcome.

Alice:

Well thats all we have time for today, and well have more "6 Minute
English" next time.

Finn:

6 Minute English

Bye for now!

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Alice:

6 Minute English

Bye!

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Vocabulary and definitions

artificial

objects or materials which do not occur naturally, and are

made by people

a new lease of life

a new, positive stage in your life

heartbeat

the regular movement of the heart as it pumps blood

around the body

comforting

reassuring

got to a point

reached a position or time

mind-blowing

extraordinary or amazing

pneumatic

powered by compressed or pressurised air

rucksack

large bag for carrying personal belongings, which is

carried on the back

More on this story: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-12422348

Read and listen to the story online:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/general/sixminute/2011/03/110303_6min_english_heart_page.shtml

6 Minute English

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