Luc Simard, a man from Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean who suffered from serious heart problems, was impatiently waiting to receive a mechanical heart at the Institut de cardiologie de Québec. He finally died on Wednesday morning, the day before the operation that might have saved his life.

• Read also: “I put my life in their hands”: a man will receive a mechanical heart in Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean

Mr. Simard had received confirmation that he would receive his mechanical heart five days ago. He announced it on his Facebook page.

“Everything was fine, his health was fine, his blood was fine. Everything was in place for the operation,” recalled his spouse, Caroline Tremblay.

But at the weekend, his health deteriorated rapidly.

“Sunday, he was starting to feel less, he wanted me to come. I said “wait a minute, your operation is soon”. And when I spoke to the cardiologist on Monday, I had to come, it was urgent,” she said.

Luc Simard ran out of time. He passed away 24 hours before the operation which was to allow him to continue living.

“I thought so much that he was going to come back and that we were going to be able to laugh and fool around once more together,” said Ms. Tremblay.

On hold since March

Mr. Simard had been transferred to the University Institute of Cardiology and Pulmonology of Quebec for cardiac arrhythmia, last March.

“It was still quite fast. One doctor following another, one cardiologist following another. The hospital did everything it might and everything it needed to do to be able to go to the operation,” said his spouse.

There were many exams to pass to ensure that Luc Simard might undergo this operation, which involved risks.

“He had a heart rate of 15% when he entered the hospital and when he died, it was at 5%,” said Ms. Tremblay.

Second mourning

Caroline Tremblay is not at her first test. 10 years ago, she also lost her daughter Joannie, killed by a repeat drunk driving offender.

“Luc said he was disappointed and made a promise to Joannie to look following her mum until the end. And he said unfortunately I won’t be able to. He was apologizing and he didn’t want to leave. I insisted as they say, I said it’s better for you, it’s going to be too hard,” said Ms. Tremblay, with emotion.

Caroline would like to thank everyone who gave generously for the cause. The money raised helped her to pay the expenses during the hospitalization period and will help her to begin an unexpected mourning.

“A chance that I had all the gifts. He also donated his cornea, his tissues. It feels good the same, you tell yourself that there is a bit of him who will live elsewhere, ”she concluded.