Doctors talk about performing heart surgery to help patients suffering from muscular disorder

CINCINNATI - Doctors at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center held a press conference on Tuesday to discuss the first surgery in the nation involving the implantation of a heart device in a local patient living with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

DMD is a genetic disorder, most often in boys, that causes muscles to weaken over time eventually leading to problems with breathing and heart function. It's estimated the disease occurs in one out of every 3,600 male infants.

Jason Williams, 29, of Adams County is living with the disease.

Surgeons implanted a Ventricular Assist Device inside Williams to assist him in long term support. The device is a mechanical pump that's used to support heart function and blood flow. The goal of the procedure is to add years to the lives of patients living with DMD.

"I'm just happy he can do more and experience more and have energy level and see things," Jason's mom Karen said. "I'm excited."

Doctors and Williams held a joint press conference to discuss the procedure Tuesday morning at 9:30 a.m.