Eighteen years ago when Cal Ming, Jr had a heart transplant operation, his doctors at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center didn’t expect him to live longer than ten years.At the age of 46 Mr Ming received the heart of an 18-year-old diver but the operation was more successful than the doctors envisioned. Like all transplant patients Mr Ming was on a daily regimen of immunosuppressant drugs. This was necessary so that his body did not reject the new heart.But the immunosuppressant drugs taken for 18 years, destroyed Mr Ming’ kidneys. Earlier this year he received a kidney from his son Cal Ming III and his medications changed.“They were able to change my entire regimen of immunosuppressants. The drugs I take now are much safer for my kidney,” said Mr Ming. “In fact when I was in Pittsburgh they were experimenting with the immunosuppressant that I am on now. I could not get it then because at the time Bermuda would not allow experimental drugs,” he added.And he said the reason was not only an insurance matter.“Physicians here don’t like to be dealing with experimental drugs because they don’t know all the side effects from them,” he said. “I can understand that. When I was in Pittsburgh last November I asked why they had given me the drugs I had.“They said to me; ‘You know very well Cal that we did not expect you to live any longer than eight to ten years.”