Boyd Rush

Boyd Rusia Rush (July 4, 1895 – January 24, 1964) was an American upholsterer who was the recipient of the world's first heart transplant on January 24, 1964, at University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi. Boyd's doctor James D. Hardy used a chimpanzee heart since no human donor heart was readily available. This heart beat in Rush's chest for approximately one hour, and then failed. Rush died following the transplant without regaining consciousness.

Biography Rush was born on July 4, 1895, in Coldwater, Mississippi. He has also been described as a "deaf mute." At approximately 11:00 pm, Rush went into shock and his blood pressure fell to 60, and Hardy took him into the operating room. Rush's heart stopped just before the team attached him to the heart-lung machine. Hardy then polled the other four doctors regarding whether they should continue with the transplant knowing that they would now use a chimpanzee heart and would likely receive much public criticism. He asked each doctor quietly, "Are you prepared to proceed?" The first doctor agreed, the next abstained, and the last two nodded their consent. The five doctors began the heart transplant using the largest of the four chimpanzees. or in the Laurel Trailer Park on the outskirts of Jackson, Mississippi.

Poor communication with relative Mrs. J.H. Thompson, who was either his sister was asked to sign the consent form which made no mention that an animal heart might be used. Hardy later stated that he had verbally discussed the procedure in detail with relatives including the possibility that a chimpanzee heart might be used, although in fact Mrs. Thompson was the only relative present.

Hardy stops his work towards heart transplant After this transplant attempt, the hospital's director of public information put out a guarded statement which included the phrase "the dimensions of the only available donor heart." The Associated Press assumed the donor heart was that of a human being and widely distributed the story. The hospital was thereby put in the position of issuing a correction, which embarrassed both the hospital and Hardy. He was further embarrassed at a medical convention two weeks later.

Hardy later wrote, "I had noted that when one loses his academic post, for whatever reason, he is not likely to get another one of comparable significance. I decided to wait until Shumway and his group transplanted a heart in man."