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In late February 1998, Jack Gardiner became the first patient in the St. Elizabeth's Coronary Gene Therapy Program trials. After a series of heart problems over the years, doctors gave him about six months to live. But he learned about Dr. Jeffrey Isner's gene therapy research and gratefully accepted the invitation to become part of the investigational study. Nearly five years later, Jack Gardiner tells NHW that he is not only alive, but enjoying life and looking to the future. NHW asked Mr. Gardiner about the impact of the procedure on his life.
"The treatment gives you a different outlook on life," he says. "I was back to it--anticipating things to do. I actually started two new businesses. I think that the best thing about the procedure is that it improved my mental outlook in addition to my physical condition."
Jack keeps in touch with other people who received the experimental VEGF treatment to grow new blood vessels in oxygen-deprived areas of heart muscle.
"Rev. Charles Wilson, who also received the coronary gene therapy at St. Elizabeth's, sends e-mails out from time to time. The most recent message said that everybody still was doing a lot better than they were before the procedure."
Would he like to receive another gene treatment if he qualified for new trials? "I certainly would," says Gardiner. "The original session allowed me to pursue new businesses and now to enjoy my newest grandson. I take him all the way to the beach in that chair. I encourage others to pursue the therapy. It gave me strength."
For information on gene therapy trials at Caritas St. Elizabeth's Medical Center in Boston, call 1-888-311-4363.
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