Natasha is from Newfoundland and came to the Maz because it was the closest facility that could provide the care she needed, where she also had family.

Most of Natasha’s family is in Alberta, and she wanted to be close to them so they could provide support.

Natasha’s heart was failing and she needed a heart transplant. Before her transplant she was place on a Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) or mechanical heart that pumped her blood for her.

She received her transplant about 6 months ago and her recovery process is going well.

She is still in Alberta and going to the Maz for checkups with the heart transplant team.

Her care teams at the Maz have always been there for her. There was always someone she could talk to or ask questions to. She was staying out of town but could always reach someone, and they would give her answers or let her know to come in.

Both her VAD care team and her transplant care team are amazing supports and have helped her go through her journey at the Maz.

The Maz is home to one of Canada’s largest Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) programs, and Canada’s only combined adult and pediatric VAD program.

Jennifer Mitchell is an RN in the cardiovascular intensive care unit. 

The CVICU is a highly specialized and technical environment which provides care to patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

This includes open heart surgery, heart transplants, lung transplants, heart-lung transplants, as well as patients who require ventricular assist devices (mechanical hearts) and ECMO life support.

The Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU) at the Maz is the only unit in Northern Alberta that provides care for patients requiring advanced cardiac and respiratory mechanical circulatory support.

The CVICU at the Maz has proven to be one of the best in Canada.

The multidisciplinary CVICU team, including critical care physicians (intensivists), registered nurses, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, dieticians and other allied health professionals work collaboratively to provide excellence and high quality patient and family centered care.

As a bedside registered nurse on the unit, Jennifer sees first hand how important the technology and expertise in the CVICU is to help patients recover.

Don Nugent is the director of organizing for labourers, organizing fund Of Western Canada, LiUNA

LiUNA Western Canada is one of our Friends of the Maz sponsors this year, along with JK McKenzie Holdings, Volker Stevin Highways, Ernst & Young LLP, and Medtronics Cardiac Therapies and Diagnostics – all new Heart Pledge Day sponsors!

The Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA) - is the most progressive, aggressive and fastest growing union of construction workers, service, healthcare and other workers in Canada. In Canada and the U.S., they proudly represent 500,000 members throughout North America, with over 100,000 members across Canada.

LiUNA is involved with local communities across North America. In Canada alone, they have proudly support thousands of charities and events that are important to their membership and the communities they are part of.

Dr. Johnathon Howlett, a Heart Failure Specialist, claims that roughly 15% of people living with heart failure receive the best care possible.

The remaining 85% “see their family doctor, and they may or may not have the occasional specialist visit, but that’s all they get.”

Working with colleagues at the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute, Dr. Howlett is developing strategies to reverse those numbers, and ensure that the best treatments are offered to the most people, and thereby, have better outcomes.

One of those strategies is developing an app that can be used on tablets, computers and smartphones that will give patients immediate connection with the heart failure specialists who can help them.

Charlene’s husband, Chris, was born with a congenital condition – bicuspid aortic valve. Some people have this condition and never know it. They live full, healthy lives and it doesn’t cause them problems. Chris was an ER Doctor and had been very active and healthy. But over time he developed issues. His left ventricle became enlarged, and the blood would flow backwards (regurgitation) because the valve did not close completely.

He had a bovine tissue valve transplant in 2013.He had to have his valve replaced last February and a mechanical valve was put in. Unfortunately he suffered from an infection and had a lengthy stay at the Maz.

During his recovery at home he suffered strokes, and had to go to the Maz for many tests. He was admitted in October and thanks to the amazing diagnostic technology available, his care team discovered that his coronary arteries had started to tear away. He had to undergo his third open-heart surgery. It was risky, but it was his only chance to survive.

Chris survived his surgery and is now back at home continuing his recovery, getting stronger every day.

The experience was scary for Charlene and the rest of their family. It was especially difficult navigating COVID-19 restrictions and added concerns for her husband’s health.

The staff at the Maz were amazing through it all. Charlene knew that the expertise of her husband’s surgeons and care team members was excellent and trusted they would take care of her husband. They were all very supportive. An example of the compassion and care they received, was how one of Chris’ doctors, Dr. Jonathon Choy made a turkey dinner and brought a plate to Chris two days before his open heart surgery. The ward was on lock down, so Charlene couldn't visit. Dr. Choy set up a zoom call so the whole family could visit with them while they had Thanksgiving dinner.