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Thank you for choosing to donate to Rob's memorial fund. As a family we have chosen to give any donations to the Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust. We have specified to the trust that we would like the money raised to be split between two appeals, both of which Rob has benefitted from in the past.
Artificial Heart Research Fund
Harefield Hospital has pioneered the use of artificial hearts to save the lives of patients with end stage heart failure who are deteriorating and unable to wait for a heart transplant. Cardiologists and surgeons are working very closely with scientists in the Heart Science Centre to study the mechanisms underlying this improvement in heart function.
Most of you will know that Rob was invited to participate in a bridge to recovery trial pioneered at Harefield and was only the 14th person to have an LVAD implanted with a view to recovery. So it is vital this important research programme continues for the benefit and future treatment of many other patients with advanced heart failure.
The Magdi Yacoub institute is a charity formed specifically to provide facilities and support for research at the Harefield Heart Science Centre. Harefield Heart Science Centre is a purpose built, state of the art research facility, that enables academic staff from the National Heart and Lung Institute and NHS staff from Harefield hospital to work on a single site under the direction of Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub.
Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub is Director of Research at the Harefield Heart Science Centre. He received a Knighthood for services to cardiac surgery in 1991, was elected Fellow of the Royal Sociaty (FRS) in 1999 and more importantly, in 2000 he gave Robert his artificial heart, having chosen Rob to be one of his last patients on the NHS.
We're sure that Rob would agree with our choice of charities and we're positive you all will too. So thanks again for all your donations.
The Thomas Family