Have a heart: Amazing story of a transplant revealed
It is a marvel of medicine, of science and of surgeons’ skill but, for 200 patients in Britain every year, a heart transplant is the difference between life and death.
A new play, We Are In Time, tells the story of a transplanted heart and is a c o l la bora t i o n b e t wee n w r i t e r Pamela Carter, Scottish Ensemble and composer Valgeir Sigurosson.
For research, Pamela spent time in the Golden Jubilee National Hospital in Clydebank with the Scottish National Advanced Heart Failure Service, where she sat in on two open-heart surgeries.
She said: “I was invited to think of a project to mark the Scottish Ensemble’s 50th anniversary and it struck me that the Ensemble is a working group of people and there might be an analogy to make with a surgical theatre – a huge leap, I know, but I’m fascinated by places of work.
“Each are experts with their chosen instruments and do their own thing to proceed to a common goal, while also needing to work together as a team.
“Last January I watched two heart surgeries. I didn’t know how I would feel but it’s one of the highlights of my career.
“The precision and minute scale was fascinating, and it was like watching artists making something, with a frail human at the centre.
“I know it’s an emotional and difficult subject, but we have tried to deal with it beautifully and sensitively.”
The play is narrated by Shetland star Alison O’donnell and premieres at Perth Theatre next week before moving on to Glasgow, Edinburgh and Inverness.
Here, we look at the real- life journey of a heart, speaking to a transplant recipient, her surgeon, a specialist nurse and the organ transportation team.