Transplant Patient Still Holding Own

University Hospitai's first heart transplant patiënt, Philip T. Barnum, 49, of Kalamazoo, has spent "another good night" following his transplant operation last Thursday night and early Friday, U-M doctors said this morning. At a news conference at 11 a.m. today, hospital physicians said, "This morning, he (Barnum) took his first liquids by mouth. He is able to be elevated in bed, but is not getting out of bed at this time." "His blood pressure is 120 over 80," the statement continued. "His pulse is 100, and he is comfortable and talking with his doctors and nurses. There has been no change in drug therapy." Barnum received the heart of Herman Opdenhoff, 37, of Pontiac in an operation that lasted five hours and 28 minutes last week. Opdenhoff had been serving a robbery sentence at Southern Michigan Prison in Jackson when he was transferred to University Hospital about a month ago. Dr. A. C. Keriajteske, director of U-M Mfeil, told reporters this mörning the ürst estimates have now been made of the number of doctors, nurses laboratory technicians, service people and other auxiliary personnel who have directly contributed to the care of Barnum. Dr. Kerlilowske put this number at SO to 90 persons, in addition to the 22 persons who served in the operating room during the transplant opera tion. Mrs. Buelah Barnum of Jackson, Barnum's mother, celebrated her 74th birthday yesterday talking to reporters at a press conference in University Hospital. "It's the happiest birthday I've ever had," she said. While she, her daughter-inlaw and the heart recipient's children met the press, Barnum continued to remain "alert and responsive" w i t h "normal" pulse and blood pressure 60 hours after receiving the heart of Opdenhoff. The heart recipient's mother told newsmen "his father died 27 years ago from the same illness (cardiac myopathy or degeneration of the heart muscle) at the age of 49," the same age as hisjiow_famous son. Barnum's wife, Aileen, when asked how she feit about the statement of the donor's sister, Mrs. Arthur (Donna) Allen of Waterf ord, that "I feel that maybe now he (the recipiënt) is just part of our family," said: "In a way I think it kind of makes us related." "I hope to meet the donor's family - they seem like very nice people," she added. "I think it is wonderful someone should dónate his heart." Opdenhoff's sister and a brother, Charles, 30, of Hadley, a foreman at a Pontiac Motors División plant, were interviewed by newsmen Saturday at a press conference at the U-M Medical Center. Mrs. Barnum told reporters that doctors at Ann Arbor Veterans Hospital where the recipiënt was a patiënt before being transferred to University Hospital on Aug. 8, had told him on Aug. 6 that in consultation with U-M doctors they had decided a heart transplant was necessary to save his life. "That night he told us himself. He didn't want the doctors to teil us and he gayéis the news. A "I thought it was a vW B.: derful idea. He had_awWiriv made the decisión and of course I had to go along with him." Asked about her husband's 'cand'idacjT on the ' Democratie ticket for the Kalamazoo County Board of Supervisors in the November election, Mrs. Barnum said "he is still running of course, but he isn't going to be able to do much eampaigning." She said she has been staying with a daughter, Mrs. Ronald (Pat) Sheldon of Adrián, and her husband, and commuting between there and the hospital. A receptionist for a Kalamazoodoctor, she said she had beert returning to Kalamazoo once al week. With her and Barnum's moth-;, er at yesterday's press conference were Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon, their two other daughters, Sheryl Anne, 19, an educatiorr major at Western Michigan University, and Nancy Rae, 17,1 a senior at Loy Norrix High School in Kalamazoo, and a? son, Army Pvt. Thomas Bar-: num, 21, who was recently flowi home from his unit in Vietnam, to be at his father's side. The recipient's mother told: reporters "I want to thank everyone al the hospital - they have been wonderful. He has had wonderful care." She said Barnum has a sister, Mrs. Lucille Civalier, in Phoenix, Ariz., and another sister, Mrs. Elsie Ackerman, in Traverse City. Dr. Roger B. Nelson, associate director of University Hospital who conducted yesterday's press conference with the aid of William Bender, hospital press officer, said "the endotracheal tube which had been inserted during the operation" has been removed. "He continúes to receive intravenous feeding, as is customary after any major surgery. Although he is moving from side to side, he has not yet been allowed to sit up nor get out of bed. "He continúes to receive Immuran and steroids and there is no evidence of rejection. His pulse at 116, maintains a normal rhythm, and his blood pressure is 130 over 80." Mrs. Barnum has been alloj ed to visit her husband brieB but he has had no other viM tPES. ; „_,