03-24-2012, 07:43 PM
Former Vice President Dick Cheney was recovering Saturday evening after undergoing heart transplant surgery, his office said.
Cheney, 71, was recovering at Inova Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church, Virginia.
He has been on the cardiac transplant list for more than 20 months, a statement from his office said.
"Although the former vice president and his family do not know the identity of the donor, they will be forever grateful for this lifesaving gift," it said.
Cheney has a history of heart trouble. He's had at least five heart attacks since 1978.
In June 2010, he was hospitalized at George Washington University for conditions related to his coronary artery disease. He had a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implanted to help his heart pump.
The former Wyoming congressman served as vice president with President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009.
In January, Showtime announced that it was producing a documentary about Cheney, tentatively titled "The World According to Dick Cheney."
Cheney, 71, was recovering at Inova Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church, Virginia.
He has been on the cardiac transplant list for more than 20 months, a statement from his office said.
"Although the former vice president and his family do not know the identity of the donor, they will be forever grateful for this lifesaving gift," it said.
Cheney has a history of heart trouble. He's had at least five heart attacks since 1978.
In June 2010, he was hospitalized at George Washington University for conditions related to his coronary artery disease. He had a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implanted to help his heart pump.
The former Wyoming congressman served as vice president with President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009.
In January, Showtime announced that it was producing a documentary about Cheney, tentatively titled "The World According to Dick Cheney."