Nicholastown connection to Canada's first successful heart transplant

Charles Perrin Johnston lived more than six years after operation.

A doctor from Kilcullen was one the team for Canada's first successful heart transplant, 50 years ago last Saturday, writes Brian Byrne.

He's Dr Joe McKenna, originally from Nicholastown, who took part in the groundbreaking operation at St Michael's Hospital in Toronto.

The transplant recipient was Charles Perrin Johnston, a 54-year-old retired engineer, who was given the heart of an 18-year-old boy in the operation. He was the 13th recipient of a transplanted heart in Canada, and the 81st in the world after the surgery had been pioneered by South African surgeon Dr Christiaan Barnard less than a year earlier.

Mr Johnston lived for more than six years after the operation, enjoying an active lifestyle. At the time of his death he had been the longest living recipient of a transplanted heart.

The surgeon who carried out the operation was Dr Clare Baker. He died in 2010.

Dr Joseph McKenna the Chief Resident in the Department of Surgery at the hospital, and is listed among the eight surgeons involved. He worked in the Donor Operating Room, where the heart was taken from the student who had died in an accident.

Dr McKenna's daughter, Katie McKenna Grieve, told the Diary that she wanted to share the story with the people of the town where he was born and raised. "I'm so proud of him," she said.

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