Central Florida's first heart transplant recipient talks about procedure

ORLANDO, Fla.,None — A 49-year-old retired police officer is the first recipient of a heart transplant here in Central Florida.

Doctors at Florida Hospital performed the milestone procedure last week The heart came from an anonymous donor, and the patient told WFTV's Bianca Castro how the transplant changed his life.

Just a week after getting a new heart, Edwin Ace is able to walk on his own, and with no pain.

"I was ready to die, but now I want to live," Arce said.

Arce suffered from congestive heart failure, and had been in pain for years. He got on the waiting list for a new heart on Christmas day last year.

The average wait is five months. He waited just seven weeks.

"When they told me that, I was so overwhelmed. You know what it is to be sick for so long and to hear you're gonna live?" Arce said.

His procedure marks a milestone in Central Florida. Only five other hospitals in the state offer the procedure.

Florida Hospital started its program two years ago, and trained a staff of 150 for its first transplant.

The program means local patients can stay close to home.

"It's very difficult to uproot a family for upwards of six months while you're sitting in the hospital waiting for a heart," Dr. Donald Botta said.

In fact, that's why Arce says he waited so long to get help. He said he is surprised with the results.

"It actually works! It does what it's supposed to. Give you life strength," Arce said.

Arce said he doesn't know who donated the heart. Most donors and their families remain anonymous, but it's a gift he said he won't ever take for granted.

"This is the most beautiful gift any human being could give," Arce said.

A typical transplant costs about $750,000, but because Florida Hospital just started its program, it's required by federal law to perform its first 10 heart transplants for free.

Right now, 165 people are on the waiting list for a heart in Florida.

On average, 35 hearts per year are recovered from Central Florida, and they're only viable for four hours after they're removed from a donor's body.

WFTV