Yellowknife (Jul 05/06) - A former long-time Yellowknife resident has triumphed in her fight for life.

Julaine Hamer underwent a heart transplant on June 14 in Edmonton after a harrowing month of waiting for a donation.

"She has received the perfect heart," says Ter Hamer, Julaine's husband.

"We are delighted with the way things have gone, and she is doing a lot better."

Julaine entered the hospital in Edmonton on the Easter long weekend and her condition quickly deteriorated to the point that they sent out an immediate call all over North America for a heart. Hamer says.

Julaine was diagnosed with cardio myopathy heart disease in 1994, but it wasn't until very recently that her condition worsened.

Julaine had been sick over the past few months, and was already on a waiting list for a major heart transplant surgery.

However, her place on the wait list was sped up so that the surgery took place sooner.

"We've been dealing with this for a couple of years," he says. "This isn't anything new. We knew it was coming, but when she worsened it was very fast."

Coralee Round, Julaine's daughter, says that it has been an emotional roller coaster for the whole family and they are still very overwhelmed with the success of the surgery.

At the time of the interview, Julaine was out of the hospital for the first time since she entered the hospital, on a day pass to visit the outside world.

"I am sure she must have been very excited," Round says.

"There were times in the last few months that she wasn't even able to look out a window, or leave her room."

The Hamer family is no stranger to the concept of organ donors and transplants.

When their son Wade died several years ago, his heart was donated for transplant.

"Julaine was very lucky," Hamer says.

"Not everyone gets to receive a heart this quickly, and some don't receive one in time.

"Her one and only roommate at the hospital passed away during her stay in the hospital because the donor heart didn't arrive in time."

Ter says their family has been very blessed, and they are very grateful to the family that donated the heart.

"We don't know who they are," Hamer says.

"But we know the heart came from far away, and we want them to know that it means so much to us."

Julaine and Ter lived in Yellowknife for 31 years, from 1973-2004 before moving to Peace River, Alta. Though they no longer live here, their connections to this city are very strong, with many friends, children and grandchildren here - and also a summer cabin out at Prelude Lake.

Julaine is expected to be out of the hospital in two months - and then, Hamer says, they hope to return to Peace River, though they always want to return North.

"Yellowknife will always be our home," Hamer says. "She won't be able to travel that far yet, but it and the people there who are hoping and praying for her, are always in our hearts."