ROCHESTER, N.Y. — A Western New York woman is celebrating a new lease on life following a heart transplant last month at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester. Denise Abbey’s life-saving procedure also marked a milestone for the hospital.

Abbey’s heart transplant, in June, marked the 300th heart transplant performed at the hospital.

Abbey is the mother of two sons. She’s a former nurse and social worker who also raised a nephew. Nearly two years ago, the Buffalo woman started feeling sick. Her heart was failing.

“And the Lord told me, not yet,” said Abbey. “He wasn't ready for me.”

Doctors in her hometown tried multiple treatments, including quadruple bypass surgery and a pacemaker, but her condition deteriorated. Eventually, doctors told her she needed a heart transplant.

“It was mind-blowing,” she said. “I’m like, there’s nothing to think about. We’re going to do what we have to do, because I want to live.”

After several trips and treatments at Buffalo hospitals, Abbey wound up at Strong Memorial Hospital -- home of the only heart transplant center in upstate New York. Doctors weren’t sure if she’d make it.

“I knew life was leaving me,” said Abbey. “I prayed to God. ‘Lord please. You know my boys still need me.’”

Seven million people in the United States live with some form of heart failure, but just 4,000 donor hearts become available each year.

“I think it’s important to note that advanced heart failure is a very big problem,” said Dr. Igor Gosev, a heart surgeon and director of heart transplant program at Strong. “It’s under-appreciated.”

Gosev led a team through the delicate operation in June. A donor heart replaced the one Abbey was born with. 

“It’s amazing how this heart transplant therapy has evolved over the last 20 years,” said Gosev. “With some medications, heart transplant patients live longer, and we really change lives.” 

Weeks after getting her new heart, she returned home to her family.

“The first time I heard my heart, I cried,” Abbey said. “Because the heart is so strong.”

Doctors say 8,600 people are awaiting various organ transplants in New York state. That number includes a great need for heart donors. The figure far exceeds the number of organs donated each year, according to the Finger Lakes Donor Recovery Network. Anyone 16 or older can enroll in the New York State Donate Life Registry.

Abbey is still immunocompromised, and she -- like all heart transplant patients -- must rely on medication to make sure the body does not reject the new heart.

Through it all, she’s doing well.

“Oh I feel wonderful,” she said. “Like, I really, really feel great. My brain wants to go, go, go. My body just has to catch up.”

Abbey does not know where the donor heart came from. Someday, she hopes to be able to thank the donor’s family.

“I’m going to always take care of this heart,” she said. “Because the blessing I received is never going to be taken for granted.”

Faced with a life and death scenario, Abbey now has much to look forward to --things she wasn’t sure she’d ever see. Things like college graduations, weddings and grandchildren. 

Sometimes, it takes nearly dying to realize how much you really want to live.

“It was a blessing to get a new lease on life,” she said. “I’m just so thankful.”