It Started With The Heart
Christophe Lafontant’s Inspirational Life
A Documentary
Since the age of six, Christophe Lafontant has experienced two heart transplants, a kidney transplant, respiratory failure, drug addiction, and depression, but he always manages to come out on top, feeling positive about life while sharing his story with the world.
Available on Demand Now!
Christophe Lafontant was born healthy and had no childhood illnesses, but at age six he had a near death experience due to heart failure. A lifesaving pacemaker was implanted and he was diagnosed with a cardiomyopathy of uncertain etiology.
In his junior year of high school, he was faced with severe deterioration of his heart and received his first heart transplant in March of 2000. Despite complications after surgery and several readmissions, he graduated with honors and was admitted to Columbia University in 2001. In 2004, he faced rejection of his first donor heart and after eight months in the Intensive Care Unit, he received his second heart transplant.
In 2010, he developed generalized weakness, followed by respiratory failure with multiple intubations and ventilator support. After an extensive workup, he was diagnosed with a rare disease, Myofibrillar Myopathy, caused by a genetic mutation. He needed a tracheostomy and continued respiratory support and required several months of intensive rehabilitation and physical therapy.
Christophe self published his autobiography, 1 Man, 3 Hearts, 9 Lives in November of 2015 and worked with Sugar Beach Digital on the documentary “It Started With the Heart.”
Christophe passed away on April 27th, 2025.
