Florida man one of only 10 people in the world who have survived a heart transplant for 25 years.

My Fox Tampa Bay
TAMPA - This is a check up that Frank Spurlin is used to. It's been part of his routine for the past 25 years.

Back in 1985, at age 42, Frank received a new heart. Dr. R. Vijay was his surgeon.

"To be able to say I've lived through it, that's amazing," Frank says.

Frank is one of only 10 people in the world who have survived a heart transplant for 25 years.

Back then, his family was told he may survive just five years, so you can imagine how blessed the Spurlin family feels now.

"It's just unbelievable, hard to put in words. A whole new extension of life," Frank says.

Dr. Vijay is the cardiac surgeon who brought heart transplants to Tampa General Hospital. Now, TGH is the fourth largest heart transplant hospital in the nation.

Dr. Vvijay says it's all about the patients.

"The driving force is to save someone's life. This was the driving force," he ays.

Frank Spurlin has been Dr. Vijay's dream patient: at death's door 25 years ago, but today, leading a normal life.

"His heart muscle, he has lived a long life and now has four grand children," he said.

For Frank, it's hard to put into words how much gratitude he has for everything from the person who signed up to be an organ donor and gave him his heart, to the steady hands of Dr. Vijay.

"When I wake up in the morning, I thank God to have another day," Frank says.

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