Isabelle
Get to know Isabelle, whose story—and life—changed in the blink of an eye.
My Myname nameis isIsabelle IsabelleDupuis, Dupuis,and andI Iam ama aheart hearttransplant transplantrecipient. recipient.
Isabelle
As a yoga teacher, Isabelle had always led a very active life. But one day, on her way home from a trip to the Gaspé Peninsula, her health took a sharp downward turn.
I Ispiked spikeda ahigh highfever feverout outof ofthe theblue, blue,and andI Iwas wasshort shortof ofbreath. breath.It Itwas waslike likeI Iwas wassucking suckingair airthrough througha atiny tinystraw. straw.And Andthen theneverything everythingcame camecrashing crashingdown. down.
Isabelle
Her partner called emergency services. In the ambulance, an electrocardiogram confirmed her heart was in distress.
It was decided that she would be transferred to the Montreal Heart Institute to receive the specialized care she required.
My Myname nameis isMaxime MaximeTremblay-Gravel. Tremblay-Gravel.I’m I’ma acardiologist cardiologistspecializing specializingin inadvanced advancedheart heartfailure failureand andtransplantation. transplantation.
Dr. Maxime Tremblay-Gravel
Dr. Maxime Tremblay-Gravel
Cardiologist specializing in advanced heart failure and transplantation at the MHI
Isabelle Isabellehad hadwhat whatis isknown knownas asfulminant fulminantmyocarditis. myocarditis.That’s That’swhen whenthe theheart heartbecomes becomesinflamed inflameddue dueto toa avirus virusor oran animmune immuneresponse. response.It Itwasn’t wasn’tpumping pumpingenough enoughblood bloodto tosupport supportthe theother otherorgans organsin inher herbody. body.
Dr. Maxime Tremblay-Gravel
My Myname nameis isDominic DominicDupuis, Dupuis,and andI’m I’mIsabelle’s Isabelle’sbrother. brother.
Dominic
When Isabelle was admitted to the hospital, she hadn’t spoken to her brother Dominic in over a year and a half.
The ordeal brought their connection back to life.
Isabelle Isabellewas wasreally reallystruggling. struggling.At Atone onepoint, point,she shegrabbed grabbedonto ontome meand andsaid, said,“Dominic, “Dominic,I’m I’mdying.” dying.”
Dominic
Isabelle’s condition was unstable—critical even. After a multidisciplinary consultation between a cardiologist, an intensive care physician, a surgeon, and an anesthesiologist, it was decided to place her in an induced coma and to use an ECMO machine to provide the circulatory support her failing heart needed.
So Sothat’s that’swhen whenwe wetook tooka amoment. moment.You Youdon’t don’tknow knowif ifit’s it’sthe thelast lasttime timeyou’ll you’llever eversee seeher. her.She Sheasked askedme meto tolook lookafter afterher herlittle littlegirl, girl,Maëlle. Maëlle.I Ipromised promisedI’d I’dalways alwaysbe bethere therefor forher her“poulette.” “poulette.”
Dominic
My Myname nameis isPierre-Emmanuel Pierre-EmmanuelNoly. Noly.I’m I’ma acardiac cardiacsurgeon surgeonat atthe theMontreal MontrealHeart HeartInstitute. Institute.
Dr. Pierre-Emmanuel Noly
Dr. Pierre-Emmanuel Noly
Cardiac surgeon at the MHI
Once Oncelife lifesupport supportis isinitiated initiatedand andthere thereare areno nocomplications, complications,we’ve we’vebought boughtourselves ourselvessome sometime. time.
Dr. Pierre-Emmanuel Noly
Of Ofall allthe thepossible possiblescenarios, scenarios,the theone onewe wehope hopefor foris isthat thatthe theheart heartwill willbegin beginto toheal healwithin withina afew fewdays, days,followed followedby bymedical medicaltreatment treatmentto tosupport supportrecovery. recovery.But Butwe wealso alsohave haveto tobe beprepared preparedfor forother otheroutcomes, outcomes,including includingone onein inwhich whichthe theheart heartdoesn’t doesn’trecover recoveron onits itsown. own.That’s That’swhere wherewe’re we’refortunate fortunateat atthe theInstitute Instituteto tohave havea awide widerange rangeof oftools toolsthat thatallow allowus usto todo doeverything everythingwe wecan canand andkeep keeppatients patientsalive. alive.
Dr. Pierre-Emmanuel Noly
After a series of tests, the medical team concluded that a heart transplant was the best option.
With Isabelle in an induced coma, her family came together to try and make this difficult decision on her behalf.
My Mychildren childrenwere werein inshock. shock.Their Theirmother motherwas wasdying, dying,and andsuddenly suddenlyit itwas, was,“Are “Arewe wegoing goingahead aheadwith withthe thetransplant transplantor ornot?” not?”It’s It’snot notan aneasy easydecision decisionto tomake makefor foranother anotherhuman humanbeing. being.
Isabelle
With no consensus reached, Isabelle had to be brought out of the coma.
Her answer was very clear.
I Ithought thoughtof ofmy mytwo twochildren. children.I Icould couldsee seethem themin inmy mymind. mind.I Isaid, said,“Oh, “Oh,my mykids—yes, kids—yes,of ofcourse, course,I Iabsolutely absolutelywanted wantedto tolive.” live.”
Isabelle
Isabelle was placed on the waiting list for a heart transplant. Her case was classified as urgent.
Then the wait came to an end.
It Ittakes takesa alot lotof oforganization organizationand andcoordination. coordination.You Youhave haveto tounderstand understandthat thatthere’s there’sone oneteam teamon onthe therecipient recipientside, side,caring caringfor forIsabelle, Isabelle,and andanother anotheron onthe thedonor donorside, side,responsible responsiblefor forassessing assessingand andretrieving retrievingthe theheart heartand andbringing bringingit ithere. here.There’s There’sa awhole wholechain chainof ofcommunication communicationthat thathas hasto towork worktogether togetherin inreal realtime. time.
Dr. Pierre-Emmanuel Noly
The operation was a success.
It Itwent wentvery verywell. well.Isabelle Isabellewas wasrelieved relievedand andoverjoyed overjoyedto tohave havea anew newheart—and heart—anda anew newlease leaseon onlife. life.
Dr. Maxime Tremblay-Gravel
These Thesedays, days,I Ican cango gofor forwalks walksor orstrolls strollsin inthe theforest. forest.I’m I’mback backat atwork. work.I’ve I’veeven evenstarted startedteaching teachingyoga yogaagain. again.
Isabelle
I Ihave havemy mysister sisterback backthe theway wayshe shewas. was.It’s It’sher— her—it’s it’sIsabelle, Isabelle,someone someonewho wholives liveslife lifeto tothe thefullest. fullest.
Dominic
Isabelle Isabelleis isradiant. radiant.She Shehas hasan anactive activelifestyle lifestyleand andis isenjoying enjoyingher herfamily. family.Medically, Medically,she’s she’sdoing doingwell. well.She’s She’sliving livingproof proofthat thatthere thereare aregood goodoptions optionsfor forthese thesepatients. patients.
Dr. Pierre-Emmanuel Noly
I Ihave havenothing nothingbut butpraise praisefor forthe theMontreal MontrealHeart HeartInstitute. Institute.Sixty Sixtyyears yearsago, ago,my mylife lifewould’ve would’vebeen beenover. over.I Iowe owemy mylife lifeto tomodern modernresearch. research.There Thereare aretruly trulygood goodpeople peoplehere hereworking workinghard hardto tohelp helpothers otherssurvive surviveand andthrive. thrive.
Isabelle
Isabelle