'I haven't felt this good in years': Blake Lively's father makes medical history as first patient to have his heart 'repaired' with injection of stem cells... and reveals his daughter wants 30 kids

  • Ernie Lively underwent retrograde gene therapy earlier this month, when his stem cells were injected into his heart to repair damaged muscle
  • Has revealed that he feels great and is looking forward to becoming a grandfather again
  • He said that Blake and husband Ryan Reynolds want to have a large family

By David Mccormack

PUBLISHED: 22:09 EST, 26 November 2013 | UPDATED: 09:49 EST, 27 November 2013

Blake Lively's father has become the first patient to undergo a unique heart procedure that involves injecting the patient’s own stem cells into the organ to repair damaged muscle and arteries.

Former actor Ernie Lively suffered a massive heart attack in 2003 and has battled health problems since, but thanks to the groundbreaking medical procedure he is feeling better than ever.

‘I woke up the other morning and told my wife, “I haven't felt this good in years,”’ he told the University of Utah Health Care.

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Blake Lively's father Ernie has become the first patient to undergo a unique heart procedure that involves injecting the patient¿s own stem cells into the organ to repair damaged muscle and arteries

In recent years the 66-year-old’s heart had only been half-functioning, which sapped his energy and made it a challenge for him even just to walk up a flight of stairs.

On 7 November, the father-of-four underwent retrograde gene therapy, in which a patient's stem cells are injected into the heart to repair damaged muscle and arteries.

 

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With all his extra energy, Ernie has said he is looking forward to youngest daughter Blake, 26,  starting a family with her husband of just over a year, actor Ryan Reynolds, 37.

Ernie also backed up a claim made by Reynolds in July that the couple are keen to have a large family.

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Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds have been married for just over a year and according to her father the happy couple are keen to start a large family

‘She is newly married and wants a big family. She says she wants 30 kids. I said, “Why don't you start with one?'” said Pa Lively.

He is also looking to finally make the most of beautiful mountains that surround his home in Heber City, Utah, that he shares with wife Elaine, also 66.

‘I moved to Utah because of the snow, but I haven't been able to ski. I literally didn't have the heart to do it. Now, I'm excited about living the rest of my life instead of sitting around.’

Lively’s acting credentials include a long list of TV and film appearances, including Passenger 57 and the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants - the latter that he starred in with his daughter, Blake.

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Former actor Ernie Lively suffered a massive heart attack in 2003 and has battled health problems since, but thanks to the groundbreaking medical procedure he is feeling better than ever

More than six million people are currently living with heart failure.

As the condition progresses, patients’ options are usually limited to a heart transplant or assist devices, such as an artificial heart.

Dr Amit Patel, who developed the groundbreaking technique, wanted to find a way to intervene in the progression of heart failure before a patient advanced to the point of needing a heart transplant or device.

'It’s incredible. Imagine having a heart procedure that can potentially regenerate or rejuvenate your heart muscle - and it’s done as an outpatient procedure,' said Patel.

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what went wrong with his marriage to sj, this girl looks like a younger version of sj?

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She looks like her Daddy!

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Nice to be wealthy and have connections.

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This procedure is in the clinical trials stage. No amount of money "gets you on" this list. Every patient requirement is based solely on patient health status and physiological / pathological needs which must match the clinical trial directives (e.g., have had past myocardial infarction causing current pathology, yet still healthy enough to endure surgery, etc.). No patient pays for any medical care while undergoing clinical trial procedures. They are risking their lives in exchange for participating in hopeful (not yet fully proven) cure.

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I had this treatment done 3 years ago at the London Chest Clinic. as did many others. So its hardly knew!

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Knew? Perhaps you mean 'new'.

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I believe The London Chest Clinic injects silicone not stem cells.

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How much did it cost? I wonder...

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Nice where the rich can have special surgery the rest of us could eh.

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It's free. It's a clinical trial where all patients are volunteers - selected ONLY on physical/medical criteria which match the FDA study/research needs. Patients risk their lives with new therapy, and agree to prioritize the years of needed testing/etc. --- in exchange get free (hopefully helpful) therapy. No person can "buy" their way on to the study. The physical/medical requirements as determined by the study (e.g., certain types of cardiac pathology, certain types of co-morbidities, so many males/females, so many older/younger, etc.) are the only way a patient volunteer can be approved to be part of the study.

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I'm sure being a high profile personality helped somewhat with his application.

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30 kids or not, having a large family today is just environmentally irresponsible.

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would that apply to your birth too?

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We could use some of those genes in this world.

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So simple looking though!

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Stem cell research & treatments should be funded. In the US there's still a big issue when it comes to segregtion between church/religion & government.

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Hmmm... this STEM CELL clinical trial is being done in the U.S. Right, Sherlock? Some US political bureaucrats believe a certain type of stem cell research is inhumane: those done with newly formed fetuses (aborted or lab created). Hematopoietic stem cell research is done with cells collected from blood or bone marrow is not illegal. The USA FDA is clearly funding this stem cell study which is done with the patients own stem cells collected from their bone marrow and inserted into their own heart. It will not fund any research having to do with newly created humans due to the debate of possible damage done to newly formed sacred human life. Big difference.

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I still hasn't soaked in the two of them are married.

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