Heart transplant recipients celebrate the Ottawa Heart Institute's 40 years of transplants

More than 60 heart transplant recipients gathered Monday to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Ottawa Heart Institute's first heart transplant and the second chances at life they received through its work.

"My heart enlarged, and I needed a transplant," said Mike Cloutier, who underwent the procedure at the age of 27 after a simple sore throat turned into viral myocarditis. "I developed strep throat. I didn't have antibiotics. I was big, strong, whatever. You know, sore throat. Well, all of a sudden, I developed viral myocarditis from that strep throat."

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The Heart Institute has performed nearly 750 heart transplants since its first in 1984.

"This is about celebrating the patients and their caregivers and their lives, as well as the donors who have provided that gift of life," said Dr. Rob Beanlands, the institute's president and CEO. "We wanted to embrace how important it is that the institute supports that and to celebrate everybody's contribution."

For recipient Everad Tilokee, who was diagnosed with heart failure at 13 and received his transplant at 24, the experience was what he calls, the "gift of life."

"It was life changing. You move from a space of survival to a space of opportunity," said Tilokee. "It changes the lives of everybody you interact with on a daily basis. The impact goes beyond just me."

For many in the room, the chance to share their stories was emotional.

"It's heartwarming," said Dan Shipman, who is approaching his 14th year post-transplant. "Funny word, but it's heartwarming. It's nice to see all these people survive this long."

Another recipient, Louis Louisson, says he made so many close connections through the Heart Institute. "I have so many people who know me here. Even nurses. You know, doctors."

For Cloutier, he is now 66 years old and says he is grateful every day for the life the Heart Institute has given to him.

"Getting older, I feel great," he said. "You learn to live one day at a time. And I've been living one day at a time for 39 years, coming up."