One year after a heart transplant at Northwestern, LaSalle man is thriving

LaSalle News Tribune | Matthew Baker
Vincent Â"ButchÂ" Plochocki empties grass cuttings into a bag at his home in La Salle, Ill. In May 2012, Plochocki underwent heart transplant surgery at Northwestern Hospital. | AP Photo/NewsTribune, Genna Ord

Although more than 60 years old, Vincent “Butch” Plochocki of LaSalle recently celebrated a first birthday. That’s the first anniversary of living with a new heart.

“I’m free to do what I want,” he said.

That means a lot for a man who spent more than a year in need of a 24-hour care while carrying around a device that kept his heart pumping. Those days appear to be over after receiving a heart transplant in May 2012.

After a year with his new heart, Plochocki is getting used to living his own life again.

He’s taken over caring for his yard again, in particular regularly mowing his lawn â€" something he loves but was unable to do a year ago. He also walks about 2 miles each day.
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