A 22-year-old woman with a heart transplant visited her old heart, which is on display at the Hunterian Museum in London.
Jennifer Sutton found she had a hard time doing moderate exercise in college. He was soon diagnosed with limiting cardiomyopathy, a rare condition in which the heart’s chambers harden over time, and it was revealed that he needed a heart transplant to survive. As his health deteriorated, a donor match was found in 2007.
After the transplant, Sutton allowed his heart to be displayed at the Royal College of Surgeons, England. In fact, his aim was to raise awareness about heart diseases and organ donation.
Sutton says she first visited her exhibited heart in 2007, when it was exhibited by the Wellcome Collection. She says it was an emotional and surreal experience when she saw it for the first time.
When he first stepped inside, it felt a little strange to think that the heart standing there was already in his body. But she also felt like he was a friend, she said. He says he kept himself alive for 22 years and is proud of him. Saying that he has seen many things in jars throughout his life, Sutton adds that it is very strange that the heart really thinks it is his.
Sutton, 38, now in good health, visited his heart again 16 years after surgery. She expresses that 16 years have passed and she could never live without a donor and she wants people to be more sensitive about organ donation. She also states that she is extremely busy and active, trying to keep her heart as healthy as possible.
The heart is currently on display at the Hunterian Museum in London.
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