A Dutch man has made history by becoming the longest-surviving heart transplant recipient as recognised by Guinness World Records.
Bert Janssen, 57, has thrived for nearly four decades with the donor heart he received at Harefield Hospital in Uxbridge, north-west London, during the 1980s.
His journey began when he was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy at the age of 17 after experiencing flu-like symptoms.
However, there were limited options for treatment in his home country.
Thanks to his cardiologist, Dr Albert Mattart, who had ties with Harefield Hospital in England, he registered Janssen for a heart transplant there. He connected him with renowned transplant pioneer Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub.
On June 6, 1984, Janssen underwent a life-changing operation, marking a significant milestone in medical history.
Reflecting on his experience, he expressed profound gratitude for the ‘incredible gift’ bestowed upon him by his donor.
Recounting the swift succession of events leading to his transplant, he said: ‘It all went very fast. Only a week after arriving at Harefield, two hearts became available from a major car accident in London. I had a match with one of these, and the heart was transplanted.’
Following the procedure, he swiftly regained a good quality of life, enabling him to pursue his passions, including air gliding.
Now a married father of two, he views his longevity as an ‘honour’ and hopes to inspire others facing similar challenges.
‘I could never imagine I would come this far,’ he remarked, emphasising the importance of setting a benchmark for future transplant recipients.
Harefield Hospital, where Janssen underwent his historic operation, has been at the forefront of transplant innovation, with over a hundred transplants conducted at the facility.
Dr Fernando Riesgo Gil, consultant cardiologist and lead of the heart transplantation service at Harefield Hospital, lauded Janssen’s resilience: ‘It is fantastic news to hear that one of our early Harefield transplant patients continues to live such a full and happy life so long after his transplant.’
Despite Janssen’s record-breaking achievement, the need for organ donors remains critical.
Data from the NHS Blood and Transplant website indicates that thousands of individuals in the UK are awaiting life-saving transplants, including more than 300 individuals in need of heart transplants.
Pic courtesy of Imperial College London
