It was a November evening in 2010 when the Montreal Alouettes football team were playing and I went just across the hallway into the “family room” to watch the game. The hospital floor has a family room with a TV a couple of couches, some chairs and a table.
As I was settling into a section of the sofa with my IV unit still connected to Heparin… I had to plug the unit into an outlet because the battery in the unit didn’t hold a charge for more than 9 minutes! Soon I heard a noise of a mechanical pump working while a young girl came into the TV room while pushing a smart cart with that special mechanical heart. This mechanical heart was connected to Jessica’s heart with tubes and as she came into the room she said “hi” and easily started a friendly conversation. She asked me what kind of heart surgery I had, and how I was feeling… and we had a nice conversation about each other’s heart condition. Mine being an aortic valve replacement, but for Jessica’s heart, it was much more serious.
Jessica’s heart was permanently damaged from a rare flu virus causing infection and it caused a serious health condition. There were large bruise type markings on her arms, and in other areas due to that rare and devastating virus!
Jessica had been connected to a mechanical heart for about two years! And at night she was in a special room with a larger mechanical heart that was connected to her during her sleeping hours. Jessica mentioned that she has been waiting for a heart donor for a long time, as her heart couldn’t be fixed, she would need a transplant heart.
If that wasn’t complicated enough, the type of heart donor would have to be a young person with her same blood type, which was a rare blood type. The size of the heart also needed to be from a small person, as Jessica had a small frame, and not any size heart donor would do!
Jessica mentioned a few things about her family, and also about her “crazy” boyfriend who had got badly injured from some “stunt” he did, and she joked that he got so badly injured that he would need to stay in the hospital, and that way he could spend more time with her! 
Our conversation lasted for about one hour, and I was so pleased to have met Jessica, and I was also saddened by her condition, and was hoping that something could be done soon to get her well again!
Jessica also had spoken with my brother at one time earlier, when I was in my hospital bed sleeping. As my brother came to visit one evening, he wanted to see how I was doing, but since I was asleep, he didn’t try to wake me. Jessica had said to him: “if I was sleeping, and a family member came to see me, I would want them to wake me, so I could see them”… and my brother thought that was very nice of Jessica to say that, but he just sat in the room near me, and kept quiet just watching me sleep, then he left to come and visit another day.
I didn’t get a chance to speak much more with Jessica after our chat, but I was glad to have met her, and was encouraged to see her so positive and ambitious to get back to living a life she had so many things she wanted to do!
Then later in April, 2011… I heard of Jessica’s passing due to a severe heart failure, and she was not able to recover. This news was very sad and painful, as I felt so bad that she wouldn’t be able live on to do the things she wanted to do, with her life and great ambitions.
I had written a small note for Jessica, and had posted on her funeral guest book page (online) and also put this note on her Facebook page:
Dear Jessica… You were more than just a “candle in the wind”, as you have captured the hearts of many who had the pleasure to meet you.
Your smile will forever be remembered, and your gentle spirit and strong character is a positive influence to all who have met you.
You will be missed greatly by many, and especially your family and closest friends. You will always be a shining light in this world, and always be remembered for your gentle ways, your genuine spirit and your daily fight to live!
I thank-you Jessica, for that brief moment that I was able to meet you and speak with you. My heart will always remember you, and would have wished you had that special donor to help you live on and on.
May your soul rest in peace, and may your family also find some peace and rest, and to find the strength again to love the life you celebrated in, regardless of the circumstance.
May your spirit forever live on in the hearts of many!
… from one damaged heart to another… may the pulse of life remain in those who cherish you forever!
