Denise Darvall, a young bank worker, was 25 years old when she went to lunch and shopping with her mother, Myrtle, and friends. While crossing the street, she and her mom got hit by a car driven by an intoxicated man. Denise’s mom died instantly, while Denise suffered serious head injuries and required a ventilator to keep her breathing. She was rushed to Groote Shurr Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa.

Louis Washkansky, a 54 year old grocer with severe coronary disease, diabetes and peripheral vascular disease from smoking, laid in another hospital room, praying for a miracle. Dr Christiaan Barnard and his brother, Dr Marius Barnard, came up with a plan. Two doctors approached Edward Darvall, Denise’s father, in the waiting room and asked if he would consider donating Denise’s heart to a very sick man in the hospital. Knowing there was nothing the doctors could do to save Denise, and after thinking of his daughter for four minutes, he said, “Yes. If Denise can no longer live, we need to give this man the opportunity to live.” Denise was declared brain dead at 9pm. It took Dr Barnard and his medical staff (30 members in all) only 4 hours to perform the first human to human heart transplant.

Mr. Washkansky’s progress after surgery was followed closely around the world. Initially, his recovery seemed to be excellent, though he was not in great shape to begin with. He would not be an ideal candidate if he were trying to receive a heart transplant today. Louis Washkansky died from pneumonia on Dec 12, 1967.

Along with Louis Washkansky, Denise also donated her kidneys that day to a 10 year old boy named Jonathan Van Wyck. Darvall’s donation and the subsequent transplant surgery received international attention and helped to revolutionize the field of organ transplantation. Denise is a true lifesaving Hero.