34 Years With A New Heart – And Counting

Almost 35 years ago, Dr. Douglas Murphy opened the chest of Harry Wuest, seen here , and sewed in a new heart, giving him a second shot at life. Wuest was the third heart transplant patient at Emory University Hospital.

Katja Ridderbusch

Whenever Harry Wuest has a doctor’s appointment in northern Atlanta’s hospital cluster dubbed “Pill Hill,” he makes sure to stop by the office of Dr. Douglas “Doug” Murphy for a quick chat.

And Murphy, unless he’s tied up in the operating room, always takes a few minutes to say hello to his former patient. “Remember when . . . ?” is how the conversation typically starts, and it’s always tinged with laughter, often joyful, sometimes bittersweet.

It’s a reunion of two men who shaped a piece of Georgia’s medical history.