**8. Care of heart transplant recipients**

In principle, a heart transplant is a brain-dead organ donation, and it is a necessary condition for the recipient to cherish the heart that has been received. Although it depends on the progress after the transplant, the recipient should not forget to convey his/her gratitude to the donor's family with a thank-you letter. In order to take good care of the heart that has been given to the recipient, it is essential to take care of complicated oral treatment, various periodic examinations (including myocardial biopsy), meticulous self-management (consideration of diet and infectious diseases), and smoking cessation. By being grateful to the donor/donor family, the recipient will *Heart Transplantation and Mechanical Circulatory Support in Japan – Past, Current and Future… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.113730*

be able to thoroughly manage his/herself, and as a result, the recipient will be able to live a long and healthy life.

Young children often do not decide to have a transplant by themselves and are prone to non-compliance and anxiety during puberty, so it is important to provide support that matches their mental development. Transplant patients are susceptible to infectious diseases, so it is important to take preventative measures against infectious diseases. However, if infectious diseases become prevalent at schools, they will be forced to take long-term absences from school, so cooperation with schools is important. As appropriate, we meet with staff at the educational institution (including school nurses, nurses, etc.) to ensure that the child is not excluded from class. The fact that the recipient takes good care of the heart that was given to them and, as a result, lives a long and healthy life, is a great way to show gratitude to the donor and the family, and to be happy for the donor's family as well.
