Media Invitation - Broken hearted: A 15-year old's story of life thanks to a mechanical heart - Now heart transplantation is his ONLY hope

MONTREAL, April 19, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - The statistics are sobering. In 2011, approximately 396 Quebecers received transplants and 59 died before receiving required organs. At year's end, 264 patients were on the wait list for crucial donations. Included in this group is young Vincent, a 15 year-old boy who has been hospitalized at The Montreal Children's Hospital (MCH) since September 2011. His own heart stopped working and now he survives thanks to an artificial one. For Vincent, the clock on his required organ donation started ticking as soon as his heart stopped beating.

Join us to hear Vincent's story and learn how virtually every department and service at The Montreal Children's Hospital (MCH) of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) has been involved in his care - from the pediatric intensive care unit internists to the nutritionists. Also, find out how the public can use social media to help Vincent find a compatible heart donor by visiting www.childrenfoundation.com, our Facebook page or by following us @HopitalChildren and helping us trend #AHeart4Vincent on Twitter.

What:	Living with a broken heart
When:	Tuesday April 24, 2012 at 10 a.m.
Where:	The Montreal Children's Hospital 2300 Tupper Amphitheatre D-182

Who:

• Dr. Luc Jutras, MCH Cardiologist
• Alain Lambert, Vincent's dad
• Dr. Samara Zavalkoff, a PICU physician and one of Vincent's primary caregivers
• Vincent, if he is well
• Louis Beaulieu,  Director General Transplant Québec

As part of Organ and Tissue Awareness Week, we ask you to have a heart and sign your Medicare Card to become an organ donor.

 

Journalist are asked to confirm their attendance by contacting
Lisa Dutton
Manager
Public Relations and Communications
Montreal Children's Hospital
McGill University Health Centre
514-412-4307