Robert Cooley, 75, taught middle school in Roseville for 37 years. In 2000, Robert C. Cooley Middle School was built to honor this long-time educator.

Earlier this year, Cooley suffered from congestive heart failure that sent him to the emergency room about every two weeks. The organ functioned at less than 10 percent, but his age made him ineligible for a heart transplant.

In January, the federal Food and Drug Administration approved the HeartMate II, which is a device that can extend the lives of patients for up to seven years. In February, Cooley became the first person in northern California to be implanted with this new heart pump through Sutter Medical Center.

~Sena Christian