Gift of Life for Heart Transplant Recipient
By Gwen Snell
Freelance Journalist
Scott Ouellette suffered a massive heart attack on April 22, 2008, while playing Ball Hockey in Red Deer. Scott was airlifted via STARS to YYC (Calgary). He was just 28 years old - and the heart attack had killed the left side of his heart.
Scott Ouellette’s friends gave him the nickname “Tinman” when they were ad- vised that Scott would require a heart transplant. SUBMITTED
Scott and his wife Amy operate Jurassic Pet Resort located north of Drumheller. SUBMITTED
Two days after the heart attack, an external pump was linked to his heart to pump his blood to keep him alive. He was one of the first people in Alberta to benefit from the portable LVAD (Left ventricular assist device). "I was the 2nd person in YYC to be put on this specific device as it was fairly new tech back then. Before the portable version I was on, you were attached to a machine and stuck in bed till transplant or death - as the machine was about the size of an ATM. The one I was on did the same thing, but was battery-operated and was the size of a small suitcase. I was one of the first people in Alberta to be released from hospital while on the LVAD while I awaited transplant." Ouellette claims it was easy to operate as it was automated, but it was indeed unique. So unique, in fact, that Scott and the LVAD sparked the interest of the Telus Spark Centre, where he became part of a scientific museum learning opportunity. When referring to the exhibit, he stated, "It was fantastic. The tech that was used to save my life is incredible and I was happy to share that with the world. It's hard for people to imagine what goes into saving a life, so to see it is very impactful. The fact that I was still golfing with this machine attached made it a little more incredible."
Friends quickly embraced the nickname "Tinman" when they were advised that Scott would require a heart. It kinda stuck.
Scott was placed on a transplant list for about four months until a suitable heart was found. On August 15, 2008, Ouellette was given the gift of life from a donor family – strangers who literally gave him their heart. Although he has never met the donor family, he was able to write to them. "In Canada, organ donation is meant to be anonymous, so I did not get any info on my donor – letters they go through the Transplant program and get screened as to omit any identifying info about myself, then sent on to the donor family. I did receive a letter back from my donor's family." Scott does know that his heart came from a woman named Kimberly. He would love to meet her family and thank them one day, but it is just not that easy. However, knowing that they received my letter helps me in living with her heart, and I hope it helps them with their loss, knowing that a piece of her never died."
A few weeks following his heart transplant, Scott became engaged to Amy Evasuik. One year later, they were married on the anniversary of receiving his new heart.
His family had discussed organ donation prior, and it was definitely something that they would consider as it was a good thing to do. Prior to April 2008, Scott was active and maintained a healthy lifestyle. Although they may have made some minor changes, they really did not require any major changes. Today, he continues to enjoy a variety of sports, including golfing and curling. "While I did suffer a "Classic" heart attack, the doctor assured me that with my lifestyle, this still should not have happened, and I can't really explain why it did."
Today, Scott and Amy operate Jurrasic Bark Pet Resort located north of Drumheller and west of Hanna, close to the junction of Hwy #9, hwy #27 and Hwy #56. "We purchased the business back in 2016 and have now been at it for eight years. My doctors have always said to keep my stress level down as much as possible, so when we got the opportunity to play with dogs and cats all day, it just seemed right. Our guests are great stress relievers."
NOTDAW (National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week) is always the last week of April, April 21 – 27, 2024. "But also since the Humbolt Broncos tragedy, we can't forget about Green Shirt Day in memory of Logan Boulet, whose family donated his organ on April 7 and now honour his legacy by bringing organ donation awareness every year on that day."
An avid supporter of NOTDAW, Scott was clear: "Your odds of being in my shoes needing an organ are far better than being a donor, so that's why it is so important for anyone who is in the unfortunate situation to become one does. You can give the gift of life at death and help someone live on."
When asked about how one might sign up to become a donor, Scott stated: "Signed up is kind of a misnomer. Back then, the only way you could be "signed up" was by filling out the back of your Alberta Healthy Care Card. Now you can have it stated on your drivers license, and soon, with recent legislation that has passed there will be a question on your tax forms. But ultimately, the decision comes down to your family. The reality is you have a far better chance of needing an organ than you do of becoming a donor, so it is very important to have this discussion with your family. If you are in a hospital on life support and all avenues and efforts to save your life have been exhausted, then, and only then, will they ask your family if they would like you to be a donor. If they say no, even if you have "signed up," it still won't happen.”