April 2026
Joe Hansen spent much of his life running — a habit that gave him freedom, energy and joy. Living in Colorado, he regularly woke up at 5:30 a.m. to run 3.5 miles at 9,000 feet of elevation. He ran 10K and 15K races and stayed active well into his 60s.
“It’s just the freedom, you’re unconstrained, you can go at your own pace. It’s exhilarating,” he says.
A sudden diagnosis
That active life changed in 2006, when Joe was diagnosed with heart failure at age 67. The condition left him weak and exhausted, unable to do the things he loved. He didn’t qualify for a heart transplant, and his outlook was limited.
“It was quite a shock when we found out,” says his wife, Jo.
“I had a very active lifestyle,” Joe says. “I was a runner for 35 years.”
As his health declined, Joe learned he might have only a year to live. His doctor referred him to Providence Heart Institute and Dr. Jacob Abraham, who introduced him to a left ventricular assist device, or LVAD — a surgically implanted heart pump designed to help circulate blood.
Joe had never heard of it, but after research and careful consideration, he chose to move forward.
“It was a no-brainer,” he says.
A new lease on life
Joe received his LVAD on Dec. 13, 2011. The surgery was performed by cardiovascular surgeon Gary Ott, M.D., who has played a key role in advancing heart failure care at Providence.
Recovery marked a turning point. Cardiac rehabilitation helped Joe steadily regain strength and energy.
“I just progressively felt better and had more energy and could do most of the things I could do before,” he says.
Time for what matters most
While running was no longer an option, Joe embraced other activities. He returned to the gym several times a week and continued golfing, camping, fly fishing and traveling — pursuits that once again felt possible.
He and Jo, married for more than 40 years, traveled to Europe, took cruises, visited family in Utah and spent many years vacationing in Hawaii.
“That was one of the greatest trips,” Joe says of a treasured family visit captured in a photo displayed in their home.
The LVAD gave Joe something priceless: More time with family.
Care that endures
Joe’s journey has included challenges. His LVAD was replaced after five years, and he later underwent another life‑saving procedure to place a stent in the device’s outflow graft. Each time, Joe recovered and returned to his routine.
“It felt like the clock had been turned back in time,” he says.
Now 86, Joe is receiving hospice care focused on comfort and quality of life. Though he tires more easily, his gratitude for his care team remains strong.
“I’m glad to have been in the right place at the right time when this technology was available and I had the doctors to steer me in the right direction,” he says.
An inspirational legacy
As Providence’s LVAD program marks 15 years of care, Joe stands as one of its longest‑living patients. He will turn 87 this May.
“Joe has set the bar for years lived on LVAD therapy for our program at Providence St. Vincent,” says Daniel Westerdahl, M.D., medical director of the LVAD program. “Setting the bar high is something Joe will always be known for.”
For Jo, the impact is simple and profound.
“Basically we got 14 years that we wouldn’t have had,” she says. “I was just elated, I can’t say anything more.”
Joe says those years — spent with his sons, grandchildren and growing family — mean everything.
“It’s been great to experience my family,” he says. “It’s wonderful to have a family and be able to enjoy it and watch them grow and mature and become adults."
Related
- See more of our services at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center.
- Read a story on recent improvements to our cardiac care facility.
- Hear how Providence Medford Medical Center's cardiac rehabilition team went above and beyond to help a patient achieve her goals.
