LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A Meade County man's heart got a little help, just in time for his granddaughter's wedding.

William Cherrill said he started having heart trouble a decade ago. He had previously had a pacemaker, but his heart health declined in recent months. 

“I couldn't breathe," he said. "I had to sleep sitting up, and it's actually had me so afraid. I was scared to actually close my eyes.” 

The right side of Cherrill’s heart collapsed. Bassel Alkhalil, Norton Healthcare cardiologist, said they installed a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) into Cherrill’s heart to help it work properly.

“It assists the left failing ventricle, and it's a surgically implanted device," Alkhalil said. "It's in the left ventricle and pumps the blood to the rest of the body to assist the heart.”

Kelly McCants, Norton Healthcare Heart Failure Program director, said just because the heart fails doesn't mean it's over. 

“The whole point is to have equipment like this that the surgeons can implant to rescue people," McCants said. 

Cherrill said he didn't hesitate to do the procedure.

“I don't regret it at all," he said. "If it's six months or a year, (it) gave me that much more time, and that's all I could ask for.” 

William’s wife, Beatrice Cherrill, said he was even more determined to recover quickly, just in time for their granddaughter’s wedding.

Cherrill had the surgery July 1 before he recovered and was cleared by doctors in fewer than three weeks, surprising their granddaughter at the July 29 wedding. 

“She was surprised to see him, for one thing, because we didn't tell her that he was going to come," Beatrice Cherrill said. "We went; we had a ball. She showed us a beautiful time.” 

Cherrill is now embracing every moment and every heart beat with his second chance at life.