AWT Employee Realizes Lifelong Dream with Heart Valve That Saved His Life

April 15, 2026

Ottawa, ON — A remarkable full-circle moment has brought together a long-time patient, his employer, his surgical team, and a leading medical device company in a story that spans more than three decades.

Danny Covey, an employee at AWT’s facility in Ottawa, underwent life-saving open-heart surgery at just 14 years old at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids). During that procedure, he received a mechanical aortic valve manufactured by St. Jude Medical—technology that would support his heart for decades to come.

Mechanical heart valves like the St. Jude models are designed to mimic the function of a natural valve, ensuring one-way blood flow through the heart. Built from durable materials such as carbon, the valve’s leaflets open and close with each heartbeat, providing reliable, long-term performance—often lasting a lifetime.

In 2017, Danny required another operation, which was successfully performed at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute by renowned cardiac surgeon Dr. Munir Boodhwani.

Years later, Danny reflected on the device that had played such a critical role in his life—a journey he wrote about in his memoir Scar Tissue. Having never seen or held a mechanical valve himself, he reached out in 2025 to Abbott— the global healthcare company that acquired St. Jude Medical in 2017. Additionally, Abbott is a long-time customer of AWT Labels & Packaging.

Moved by his story, Abbott’s Canadian Director of Public Affairs coordinated with the Ottawa Heart Institute and Dr. Boodhwani’s office to arrange a special meeting. The collaboration culminated in Abbott donating a mechanical valve, giving Danny the rare opportunity to see and hold a device similar to the one that had sustained him since childhood.

“This experience fulfills a lifelong dream,” says Danny. “To finally see and hold something that has kept me alive for so many years is profoundly meaningful!”

The moment highlights not only the advancements in cardiac care, but also the human connections behind medical innovation—linking patients, physicians, and industry partners in lasting and impactful ways.

AWT Healthcare, AWT’s medical division, specializes in converting medical device and diagnostic components. Our capabilities include clinical trial and pharmaceutical labeling, as well as high-quality printing of lidding, roll stock, and flexible packaging for medical device and supply manufacturers.

About Abbott
Abbott is a global healthcare leader dedicated to helping people live more fully at all stages of life. Abbott acquired St. Jude Medical in 2017, expanding its portfolio of life-saving cardiovascular technologies.

About the University of Ottawa Heart Institute
The University of Ottawa Heart Institute is Canada’s largest and foremost cardiovascular health center, dedicated to patient care, research, and education.

Heading to MD&M Midwest? Visit AWT at Booth 2611

AWT Healthcare will be at MD&M Midwest, October 28–29 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. If you’re looking for ways to improve your medical device or diagnostics packaging, reduce complexity, or explore new labeling and packaging solutions, we’d welcome the opportunity to connect.

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If you’ll be attending, visit AWT at Booth #1713. We’d welcome the opportunity to discuss your application, answer your questions, and explore how our engineering and manufacturing expertise can help move your next project forward.

The Battery Show takes place October 12–15, 2026, in Detroit, Michigan. To learn more about the event, click here. We look forward to meeting you.

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