By Bruce Schreiner
The Associated Press

LOUISVILLE - A recipient of a self-contained artificial heart died of multiple organ failure at Jewish Hospital, one day short of celebrating his 80th birthday, his surgeons said Friday.

Keith Blakeley received the AbioCor device in a six-hour surgery Jan. 7 and lived 101 days with the implant pumping inside his chest.

The retired glassware manufacturing worker and World War II Army veteran from North Star, Ohio, died Thursday.

Blakeley was on a ventilator most of the time after his implant, but he was able to communicate and spent a lot of time looking at family photo albums and reminiscing, said his son, Ken, of Cincinnati.

"He was very upbeat while he recovered at Jewish Hospital and was able to spend some much-valued, quality time with family and friends," he said. "We shared some very special moments."