Geary Pastor Only 2nd Person In Country With Portable Artificial Heart

Jacqueline Sit, News 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A Geary pastor is only the second person in the country to leave a hospital with a portable device that powers his artificial heart, and on Sunday he took center stage to give his first sermon since being hospitalized earlier this year.

Troy Golden has preached every Sunday for 12 years at New Life Assembly, that's until earlier this year when a genetic condition destroyed his heart and nearly took his life.

"God's brought me back from the brink of death 50, 60, 70 something times, so I'm excited to share my hope and faith with the people here today," Golden said.

Golden delivered a message about how his faith and hope got him through months of being in the hospital.

"I wake up with an appreciation that God has given me another day with an excitement that today is another day, another chance to do something great for him," Golden said.

That other chance Golden was given is what's inside his backpack -- a Total Artificial Heart. Golden has been on the top of the transplant list since January but so far there is still no match, but he became the second patient in the country to leave the hospital using a portable driver to power his heart.

"I'm really thrilled to have him back. That's where his heart is, and I know that's what God's plan is for him. This is his element, and it's good to have him get back into that," said Darla Golden, Troy Golden's wife.

The service was a reunion of sorts. In the crowd, there were the doctors Golden credited to saving his life.

"It still boggles my mind. It boggles my mind that I was hooked up to a 418 pound machine, and here's a little 13, 14 pound machine doing the same thing. It's unbelievable," Golden said.

During the service, Pastor Golden was so excited his machine beeped quite a few times.

Before the end of the year, Golden said he hopes to do the other things that are close to his heart, fishing and golf.

Golden said he is still praying for a real heart. A special fund has been set up to help the family with their medical bills. Donations can be made to the Troy Golden Heart Fund at the Bank of Western Oklahoma in Geary.