Marlène
Listen to the testimony of Marlène, a patient whose life was transformed thanks to the MHI.
When WhenI Iwas wasyounger, younger,my myusual usualmetro metrostations stationswere wereJean-Talon Jean-Talonand andDe DeCastelnau. Castelnau.It Itwas wasreally reallyhard hardfor forme mebecause becausethere therewere wereso somany manystairs. stairs.Up Upuntil untilmy myearly early20s, 20s,I’d I’dalways alwaysbeen beenable ableto toclimb climbthem, them,no noproblem. problem.
Marlène
But as time went on, it became increasingly difficult for Marlène…
Seeing Seeingelderly elderlyfolks folkswho whowere werein inbetter bettershape shapethan thanme mebummed bummedme meout. out.
Marlène
So Marlène started seeking help to
figure out what the issue was…
My Myname nameis isPhilippe PhilippeL’Allier, L’Allier,and andI’ve I’vebeen beena acardiologist cardiologistat atthe theMontreal MontrealHeart HeartInstitute Institutefor forover over20 20years. years.
Dr. Philippe L.-L’Allier
Dr. Philippe L.-L’Allier
Hemodynamics cardiologist and director
of prevention at the MHI
I Iwas wasat atmy myclinic, clinic,where whereI Imostly mostlysee seeolder olderpatients. patients.All Allof ofa asudden, sudden,a ayoung youngwoman womanshowed showedup upin inmy myoffice. office.Her Hername namewas wasMarlène. Marlène.
Dr. Philippe L.-L’Allier
Marlène showed concerning symptoms,
namely shortness of breath and heart failure.
When WhenI Idid didmy myfirst firstMRI, MRI,I Ithought thoughtto tomyself, myself,“Uh “Uhoh, oh,what’s what’smy myfuture futuregoing goingto tobe belike?” like?”Yeah, Yeah,naturally, naturally,I Iwas wasscared. scared.
Marlène
The tests showed that Marlène suffered
from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM),
a hereditary condition where
the ventricle’s wall becomes thick
and prevents the heart from
pumping enough blood.
People Peopleput puttheir theirtrust trustin inus, us,and andthat’s that’sa abig bigresponsibility. responsibility.We Wecan’t can’tafford affordto tomake makemistakes. mistakes.
Dr. Philippe L.-L’Allier
Dr. L’Allier performed a procedure
called an alcohol septal ablation
to thin out Marlène’s heart muscle.
Everything went well.
After Afterthat, that,my mylife lifechanged changedcompletely. completely.My Myexercise exercisecapacity capacitywent wentfrom from25% 25%to to75%. 75%.
Marlène
I Ieven evenhad hadtears tearsin inmy myeyes, eyes,I Isaid saidto tomyself: myself:“I “Ican canfinally finallylive livea anormal normallife lifelike likeeveryone everyoneelse, else,or orjust justabout!” about!”
Marlène
Dr. L’Allier continued to monitor Marlène because her condition left her vulnerable in certain respects.
For Forinstance, instance,for forsomeone someonewho whohas hasheart heartfailure, failure,a apregnancy pregnancywill willbe beextremely extremelyhigh highrisk. risk.
Dr. Philippe L.-L’Allier
Because HCM is largely hereditary,
whenever someone’s diagnosed,
we suggest that their family
get screened too.
After undergoing genetic tests,
the vast majority of Marlène’s
relatives learned that they
also have the condition.
Emmanuel, Marlène’s brother
We Wemet mether hercousins, cousins,her heruncles, uncles,her heraunts… aunts…Monitoring Monitoringa afamily familyas asbig bigas asMarlène’s Marlène’sis isa aunique uniqueopportunity, opportunity,and andit’s it’svery veryrewarding. rewarding.
Dr. Philippe L.-L’Allier
After a while, Dr. L’Allier noticed that something wasn’t quite right…
Marlène Marlènedeveloped developednew newsymptoms. symptoms.
Dr. Philippe L.-L’Allier
Queasiness.
Heart palpitations.
Nausea…
Could Marlène be pregnant?
I Itook tooka apregnancy pregnancytest testand andthe thelittle littleline lineappeared. appeared.It Itwas wasreally, really,really reallyfaint, faint,but butit itwas wasthere! there!
Marlène
But Dr. L’Allier was concerned—he wasn’t sure if Marlène’s condition would allow her to carry her pregnancy to term.
Doctors Doctorsare arealways alwaysthere thereto toworry worryabout aboutthe theworst-case worst-casescenario. scenario.
Dr. Philippe L.-L’Allier
Dr. L’Allier kept a very close eye on the pregnancy’s impact on Marlène’s heart failure.
Finally, the big day arrived.
When Whenit itcame cametime timeto topush, push,I Isaw sawmy myheart heartrate ratego goup upto to175. 175.
Marlène
I Igathered gatheredall allmy mystrength, strength,had hada asurge surgeof ofenergy energyand andmanaged managedto togive givetwo twogood goodpushes. pushes.
Marlène
Her Hernext nextappointment appointmentcame camearound. around.Marlène Marlènewalked walkedinto intomy myoffice… office…And Andshe shewasn’t wasn’talone! alone!
Dr. Philippe L.-L’Allier
Two days after she was born, Marlène’s daughter underwent a screening test.
At Atthat thatmoment, moment,I Ithink thinkI Iwas wasthe thehappiest happiestmom momin inthe theworld! world!
Marlène
When the child doesn’t carry the family’s genetic anomaly, it breaks the cycle.
That means there’s no risk of them developing or passing on the condition.
My Myname nameis isLeïla, Leïla,I’m I’mnine nineyears yearsold oldand andI’m I’mMarlène’s Marlène’sdaughter.
daughter.
(laugh) (laugh)
Leïla
Cardiovascular genetics
is a field that has only existed
for about 10 years.
Without Withoutthe theFoundation’s Foundation’ssupport, support,it’s it’sclear clearthat thatcardiovascular cardiovasculargenetics geneticswould’ve would’venever nevergrown grownlike likeit ithas. has.
Dr. Philippe L.-L’Allier
When Whenyou yousee seehow howmuch muchof ofan animpact impactit’s it’shad hadon onMarlène Marlèneand andall allher herrelatives, relatives,that’s that’swhen whenyou yourealize realizehow howincredible incredibleit itis. is.
Dr. Philippe L.-L’Allier
Every day, the Foundation
and its donors allow the MHI
and its experts, like Dr. L’Allier,
to change lives.
This Thispatient, patient,her herfamily familyand andwe weourselves ourselvesall alldepend dependon onwhat whatthe theMontreal MontrealHeart HeartInstitute InstituteFoundation Foundationmanages managesto todo. do.
Dr. Philippe L.-L’Allier
Marlène