There was a time, not long ago, when East Gwillimbury and Orillia residents Jillian Swindle and Ellie Hill thought running or walking might be activities they would have to give up as the excruciating hip pain they experienced every day affected their quality of life.

At 73 years old, Marg can often be found in her garden, hauling soil bags and pulling weeds for nearly 15 hours a week. With her active lifestyle and busy schedule, she never imagined that heart failure would put her life in jeopardy.

Only six healthcare organizations worldwide have reached this milestone in cardiac care. Southlake Health has successfully implanted 1,001 sutureless heart valves, becoming the first hospital in North America to meet this major milestone using the Perceval valve.