Former Vice President Dick Cheney said Sunday that he’s “been blessed with the wonders of modern medical technology” that rescued him last summer from end-stage heart failure and is allowing him more time with his family.

“It’s going pretty well,” the 70-year-old said when asked on “Fox News Sunday” about his health. “I had a rough patch there for a while last year,” he said, but with the help of a special heart pump he’s preparing to go fishing at the end of the month, as well as to continue his work on a book.

Cheney is expected to release a memoir in August that covers his career, including his time as vice president in George W. Bush’s administration.

Cheney has a long history of heart disease, experiencing his first heart attack at age 37. The mechanical heart pump was surgically implanted in July.

“I was in end-stage heart failure when I went into the hospital, and they fixed it,” he said. “I’m a great believer in the technology. But you do have to be sensitive to it. You’ve a lot of gear you’ve always got to have with you. You’ve got to be prepared to keep your batteries charged.”

Cheney said he was undecided about whether to pursue a heart transplant, saying he wasn’t “prepared to make any medical announcements.”