Denise Darvall (born 1943 died December 3, 1967) was the donor in the world’s first successful human heart transplant, at Groote Schuur Hospital performed by a team of surgeons led by Professor Christiaan Barnard.
Denise was very seriously injured in a car accident in Observatory, Cape Town . Denise’s mother, who was also involved in the crash, died immediately. Denise sustained a skull fracture and severe head injuries. She could not stay alive without life support, and was essentially brain dead. At 9 pm on the day of the accident, the resuscitation team stopped trying to revive Denise.
After Denise's parents gave their consent, Denise’s heart was donated to the first heart transplant recipient, Louis Washkansky. Her kidneys were given to 10-year-old Jonathan van Wyk . Due to the apartheid in South Africa at the time, the kidney donation to Van Wyk was controversial because Van Wyk was black, whereas Denise was white.
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Last updated: 08-24-2005 12:04:49
