From Heart Failure to Hope: Marc Pierre’s Journey to the Transplant List

By the time Marc Pierre arrived at Jackson Memorial Hospital in 2021, his heart was failing fast. At just 36, he was in cardiogenic shock, a life-threatening condition where the heart doesn’t pump the amount of blood the body needs.

Pierre first began noticing problems with his heart while living in Maryland. He was always short of breath and didn’t have the energy to shower or complete daily tasks. He was admitted to a local hospital, diagnosed with congestive heart failure, and told his heart was functioning at only about 20 percent. He was discharged with medication and instructed to follow up with a cardiologist.

Later, while visiting family in Haiti, Pierre’s condition worsened. His body became swollen as he began retaining fluid. His cousin, Doris Sainvil, quickly recognized the signs of serious heart trouble. Pierre flew back to Miami and went straight to Jackson Memorial.

“If he didn’t get back to Miami and go to the hospital, I don’t think he would have made it,” Sainvil said.

At the hospital, Hoda Butrous, MD, an advanced heart failure and transplant specialist at the Miami Transplant Institute (MTI), and a care team admitted him to the ICU for lifesaving treatment. A balloon pump stabilized him, but he couldn’t be weaned from the support. At the time, Pierre wasn’t a candidate for a heart transplant, so the team offered him another option – a left ventricular assist device, or LVAD.

“An LVAD can be used as a bridge to a transplant or destination therapy,” Dr. Butrous said. “For Marc, it started as a destination therapy, but then, through his years of working with our social work team, consistently taking his medication and following care instructions, he became a candidate.”

Pierre was added to the transplant list through MTI last year.

“The staff has taken very good care of me,” he said. “As soon as I got the LVAD, I felt better. Like nothing was wrong.”

Now living in Miami and surrounded by family, Pierre’s health has continued to improve.

“We work closely with patients, supporting them from every angle – medically, emotionally, and socially,” Dr. Butrous said. “That includes helping them understand their care, manage challenges at home, and navigate financial or insurance needs. A strong support system is essential when someone is preparing for something as complex as a transplant.”

Pierre continues to attend regular appointments and follow-up visits as he waits for the call that will change his life – a donor heart becoming available. The MTI team is guiding him, providing coordinated care, education, and encouragement as he waits for a new heart.

“I’m just thankful,” Pierre said. “I wouldn’t be here without my doctors, nurses, and the whole team.”