Jennifer Sutton, a lady who underwent a life-saving heart transplant at the age of 22, recently had the amazing opportunity to visit the museum where her own heart is now displayed. Sutton is in awe of this unusual and highly personal experience as she reflects on the route that got her here, 16 years after her transplant.
Sutton’s heart is currently on display at the Hunterian Museum in London, allowing her to see this wonderful occasion firsthand. Sutton, who had the transplant because of restrictive cardiomyopathy, recalls the experience as “surreal.” Her goal is that putting her own heart on display may encourage others to think about organ donation, understanding the enormous impact it has on saving lives.
Back when Sutton was just 22 years old, she began to experience severe physical limitations, even struggling with simple tasks like walking up gentle hills. The diagnosis of restrictive cardiomyopathy brought the harsh reality that she would not survive without a heart transplant. Her condition worsened while waiting for a suitable donor, but in June 2007, the long-awaited news arrived—a matching heart had been found.
The surgery was an anxious moment for Sutton, particularly because her own mother had passed away during a similar procedure when Sutton was just 13. However, her transplant was successful, and now, 16 years later, she stands before her old heart, preserved for exhibition.
Reflecting on that pivotal moment, Sutton shared her elation with BBC News, saying, “I remember waking up after the transplant and thinking, ‘Oh my goodness, I am actually a new person.’ I remember doing a little double thumbs up dance to my family and saying, ‘I made it, I made it.'”
Sutton willingly consented to her heart being displayed, as she believes it serves as a testament to the importance of organ donation. She considers her heart to be the “greatest gift possible” and hopes that her story will inspire others to become organ donors.
Walking into the exhibition, she experiences a mix of emotions, realizing that the heart before her used to reside within her own body. But amidst the strangeness, she also finds solace, seeing it as a companion that kept her alive for 22 years. Sutton candidly admits, “I’ve seen lots of things in jars in my lifetime, but to think that’s actually mine is very weird.”
Mr. Steven Large, the surgeon who performed Sutton’s transplant at the Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridgeshire, attests to the severity of her condition before the operation, stating that she was “as sick as anybody with pump failure.”
Nevertheless, Sutton has defied the odds, leading a fulfilling life since her transplant. She has since married, a milestone she believes would not have been possible without the selfless act of donation.
Now 38 years old, Jennifer Sutton cherishes the 16 incredible years she has been granted. She remains determined to live life to the fullest, actively maintaining her newfound health and embracing the gift of time her donor has bestowed upon her.
