BOSTON -- The man who received the first heart transplant at Massachusetts General Hospital returned for a visit Friday.

NewsCenter 5's Janet Wu reported that two decades after the operation, John Scripter continues to be an inspiration.

Twenty years ago, Scripter was on his deathbed with only days left, according to his doctors. But after consulting with this wife, Linda, he agreed to become the first heart transplant patient at Mass General.

"I was scared to death, Really scared," Scripter said.

"The life expectancy back then, we were hoping to get John another seven or 10 years," Dr. G. William Dec said.

His doctors now predict he will have another 15 to 20 years with his family. The celebration attracted not only the original team that operated on Scripter, but those who see him as a folk hero. Anne Cashman is hoping to be the 260th heart transplant patient at the hospital.

"You're an inspiration," she said. "You are very fortunate to be in this position to get a heart."

Since the first surgery, the procedure is simpler and shorter. The survival rate for the average patient is now 13 years.

"The real change has been better drugs to prevent rejection," Dec said.

But 10 to 15 percent of the patients waiting for a heart die without a match.

But the Cashmans are optimistic.

"It's ironic that we are here and the original recipient is here, and all is well that ends well," Cashman's husband, Marvin, said.