The Heart of Determination: Walking Strong After Transplant

When Kieran first considered joining the American Heart Association's 2024 Boston Heart Walk, he felt uncertain. Could he manage to complete the one-mile route? Only a year ago, the 57-year-old father of three had faced difficulty walking even short distances to his medical appointments while awaiting a heart transplant. But with determination and optimism, Kieran embraced the challenge. He wanted to prove how far he had come and to support organizations that empower others in the fight against heart disease.

A Long Road with Heart Failure

Kieran's journey with heart issues began in 2003 when he was diagnosed with—and treated for—cardiomyopathy, a condition weakening his heart's ability to pump blood, likely triggered by a viral infection. In 2010, he suffered two heart attacks and underwent a triple bypass surgery performed by Vladimir Birjiniuk, MD, at Mount Auburn Hospital to restore blood flow.

Ten years after his triple bypass, Kieran returned to Mount Auburn Hospital with severe symptoms, including sleepless nights and fluid retention. “They told me my heart had deteriorated to the point where another bypass wouldn’t help,” he recalled. His cardiologist, T. David O’Halloran, MD, referred him to the Advanced Heart Failure Program at BIDMC.

Kieran met with Marwa Sabe, MD, MPH, Associate Director of the Advanced Heart Failure Program and Medical Director of the Ventricular Assist Device Program. After an extensive evaluation, Dr. Sabe and the team discussed Kieran’s options and, with him, determined that his best option was a heart transplant. It was a wakeup call for Kieran: “I didn’t realize how weak my heart had gotten,” he said.

A New Program Provides Hope

In the fall of 2023, the BILH Heart Transplant Program at BIDMC opened in the new, state-of-the-art Klarman Building. Surgical Director Masashi Kai, MD has performed more than 300 heart transplants in his career and works alongside advanced heart failure physicians, cardiac anesthesiologists, nurses, and pharmacists with expertise in all aspects of heart transplantation. "Our cardiovascular team at BIDMC has been performing advanced cardiac surgery for decades. We designed this new transplant program to connect new hearts to patients in need while ensuring they receive the safest and most comprehensive care possible," Dr. Kai explains.

Kieran had been on the transplant list at another institution for some time. When he considered options, he felt assured that the BILH transplant program at BIDMC was the right path to a new heart. “I was immediately impressed after meeting Dr. Kai.” Soon after the meeting, Kieran moved his listing to BIDMC, and something remarkable happened. In a little over a week, he got the call—a heart was available. On Saturday, September 23, 2023, Kieran was wheeled into surgery.

An Uphill Climb

In the days following the transplant, Kieran faced some complications and needed additional surgery, but he was undaunted. “The team was phenomenal. They took great care of me.”

Throughout his recovery, Dannya Pimentel, NP-BC, a Nurse Practitioner in the Advanced Heart Failure VAD and Transplant Cardiology program, remained by Kieran’s side. “Complications, especially in complex heart transplants, are not uncommon,” Dannya explained. “We have a highly skilled and experienced team that is prepared to address challenges as they arise.”

When Kieran returned to his Hingham home to his wife Karen, he reflected on how remarkable it all seemed, “Thirty-seven days after I walked into BIDMC, I walked out with a new heart and into my home.” He added, “Working with the nurse practitioners and the members of the transplant team was phenomenal. I've never been worried about anything. If they said to do something, I did it.”

The Road to Recovery

Over the next year, Kieran regularly visited BIDMC to monitor his progress. Dannya became his main point of contact, supporter, and cheerleader throughout his recovery. “I tell my patients that recovery is a process,” she said with the warmth of a firm but loving parent. “There are bumps and potholes, hills and mountains along the way, but there are no cliffs. We’re here to support patients throughout it all.”

The transplant team builds close relationships with patients and their families, connecting them with community resources and providing medical care while giving emotional support for such a complex and unique experience. “Kieran’s resilience and positive outlook are remarkable,” shared Senior Clinical Social Worker, Amy DeNuzzio, LICSW, CCTSW-MCS.

Reaching the Finish Line

Nearly a year after his transplant, Kieran joined the 2024 Boston Heart Walk with his own team, Klarman Club, named after the building where he received his transplant. “Since my operation, I'd been trying to find a way to pay back this gift that I’ve received. The Boston Heart Walk was an opportunity that presented itself that I just didn't think I should pass on,” he shared. With fellow heart transplant recipient Bob Blanchard and Bob’s wife Debbie by his side, along with Kieran’s wife, brother and sister, Klarman Club raised almost $5,000 for the American Heart Association, supporting cardiovascular research and care.

On that bright October day, Kieran stood at the Heart Walk start line, encouraged by BIDMC team members, including staff from the Beth Israel Lahey Health Heart Transplant Program, wearing cheerful orange shirts. Reflecting on this milestone event, he felt a deep sense of gratitude for what he was able to accomplish during the last year with the support of his BIDMC care team, friends and family.

The notoriously steep incline up Beacon Hill that kicks off the Heart Walk route seems a fitting metaphor for Kieran’s transplant journey. Determined to push through the difficult and uncertain path, Kieran found steady terrain toward the finish line through hard work and committing to caring for his heart. “You have to stay focused on the outcome; the process is long. Whatever my care team asked me to do—taking medications, showing up to all my appointments, doing my physical therapy—I did it and moved on to the next step. I've gone through too much to give up.”

Learn more about the BILH Heart Transplant Program at BIDMC.