Tag:

Heart Transplant

Bowie, MD
Breaking News
Have A Heart: Prince George's First Responder Recovering In ICU After Emergency Transplant Have A Heart: Prince George's First Responder Recovering In ICU After Emergency Transplant
Have A Heart: Prince George's First Responder Recovering In ICU After Emergency Transplant A Maryland first responder who has spent his career helping others is now the one fighting for his life — and his community is stepping up. Stephon Jones, a Prince George’s County Emergency Dispatcher III, volunteer firefighter, and EMT in Bowie, underwent an emergency heart transplant on Monday, Feb. 16, after a sudden medical crisis. Two years ago, Jones was diagnosed with congestive heart failure and was told he might need a transplant in 10 years.  "Ten years" came very quickly. Jones was admitted to the hospital on Feb. 3 for what was supposed to be a three-day IV treatment — an…

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by Zak Failla
Manhasset, NY
Breaking News
'I Came Back To Life': First-Ever Triple Organ Transplant On LI Performed At Manhasset Hospital 'I Came Back To Life': First-Ever Triple Organ Transplant On LI Performed At Manhasset Hospital
'I Came Back To Life': First-Ever Triple Organ Transplant On LI Performed At Manhasset Hospital In a historic medical milestone, a Long Island hospital successfully completed its first heart, liver, and kidney transplant on a single patient—giving a 47-year-old Queens man a miraculous second chance at life. The groundbreaking surgery took place at North Shore University Hospital (NSUH) in Manhasset on Saturday, Feb. 8, when Sergio Arias Cestoni, of Hollis, underwent a grueling 14-hour operation to receive three life-saving organs from the same donor. Cestoni, who had long battled ischemic cardiomyopathy, diabetes, and cirrhosis, was admitted to the hospital in November 2024 when his f…

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by Michael Mashburn
Egg Harbor Township, NJ
Your Community
Beloved NJ College Rowing Coach Battles Cancer, Needs Heart Transplant: Campaign Beloved NJ College Rowing Coach Battles Cancer, Needs Heart Transplant: Campaign
Beloved NJ College Rowing Coach Battles Cancer, Needs Heart Transplant: Campaign A retired Stockton University rowing head coach is battling cancer and looking for a heart transplant, according to a fundraising campaign. John Bancheri was hired in December 2018 as Stockton's first full-time women's rowing coach, the Galloway Township college said. Bancheri is an Atlantic City native with about 40 years of experience as a college rowing coach. A GoFundMe page for Bancheri had raised more than $31,000 from at least 240 donations as of Monday, Mar. 11. "John has always been about coaching and giving to others," the GoFundMe page said. "But coaching is not financially rewa…

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by Chris Spiker
Hamilton Township, NJ
Breaking News
NJ Dad Dies During Heart Transplant: 'Devastating Loss' NJ Dad Dies During Heart Transplant: 'Devastating Loss'
NJ Dad Dies During Heart Transplant: 'Devastating Loss' The Mercer County family mourning the loss of their dad who died during a heart transplant is seeing an outpouring of support. Shewly Roy "has endured a devastating loss with the passing of her husband, Dibyendu Roy on June 24," according to a GoFundMe page. Dibyendu was the sole provider for the family and is survived by their only daughter, Shweta.  Shweta is in college and needs help financing her studies, the page says, adding, "Shweta's educational journey was abruptly interrupted, and now she aspires to resume her studies, aiming to achieve a college degree and attain self-…

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by Jon Craig
Albany, NY
Your Community
8-Year-Old 'Warrior' From Capital Region Needs Second Heart Transplant 8-Year-Old 'Warrior' From Capital Region Needs Second Heart Transplant
8-Year-Old 'Warrior' From Capital Region Needs Second Heart Transplant The community is rallying around the mother of an 8-year-old boy from the region who is waiting to undergo his second heart transplant. Rensselaer County resident Nicole Miller, of the town of Nassau, turned to GoFundMe for help after learning that her son Damien’s heart was failing two years after the boy was diagnosed with coronary artery disease. It marked the second time the young boy’s life was upended by heart issues, Miller recounted on the GoFundMe. When he was just 10 months old, Damien was airlifted to Boston Children’s Hospital after his heart stopped while being treated at Alb…

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by Michael Mashburn
Stamford, CT
Breaking News
Support Swells For 29-Year-Old Heart Transplant Recipient From Stamford Support Swells For 29-Year-Old Heart Transplant Recipient From Stamford
Support Swells For 29-Year-Old Heart Transplant Recipient From Stamford A community in Fairfield County is coming together to support the family of a 29-year-old heart transplant recipient as he recovers from his surgery.  Stamford resident Mateo Gallego, age 29, became the recipient of a new heart after experiencing chest pain on Monday, May 15. When his condition began rapidly deteriorating, he was taken to Stamford Hospital before he was transferred to Yale Hospital.  There, he was admitted for an unexpected heart transplant after he was diagnosed with heart failure, according to his father, Jorge Gallego, who began a GoFundMe fundraiser page …

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by Ben Crnic
Newark, NJ
Breaking News
NJ Teen Who Recently Woke Up From Coma Sees Community Support NJ Teen Who Recently Woke Up From Coma Sees Community Support
NJ Teen Who Recently Woke Up From Coma Sees Community Support Nelson Matos has been fighting for his life since his 17th birthday. The Nutley junior in high school recently awakened from a weekslong coma, and a fundraiser has been set up to help pay for his medical bills and medical equipment. As of Thursday, May 25, more than $42,000 has been raised. Matos initially experienced a minor cold and then acid reflux before being rushed to Mt. Sinai Hospital where he was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect. Matos had a stroke after surgery and fell into a coma. Upon awakening from the coma, he currently is suffering from paralysis and a speech impairm…

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by Sam Barron
Dorchester, MA
Your Community
'I Have A Future': NY Mother Jubilant For Life-Saving Heart Transplant In Mass 'I Have A Future': NY Mother Jubilant For Life-Saving Heart Transplant In Mass
'I Have A Future': NY Mother Jubilant For Life-Saving Heart Transplant In Mass A woman from upstate New York has a new lease on life after she received a crucial heart transplant surgery in Massachusetts at the end of last month.  Erica Raspante, of Oriskany Falls, NY, got the life-saving news that a heart was donated on her behalf on Sunday, April 30, according to a GoFundMe campaign. The organ came from another family's loved one, and their generosity left Raspante speechless. "I have no words. Not sure I ever will," she said in a Facebook post. "I am alive because someone chose to donate. I’m alive because God chose this path for me. I have a future."  It’s o…

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by David Cifarelli
Bristol, PA
Your Community
Man With Congenital Heart Defect Hoping For Life-Saving Procedure In Pennsylvania Man With Congenital Heart Defect Hoping For Life-Saving Procedure In Pennsylvania
Man With Congenital Heart Defect Hoping For Life-Saving Procedure In Pennsylvania The community in Boston is rallying for a man hoping for a life-changing heart procedure at the Children's Hospital of Pennsylvania (CHOP). Cole Cand was born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, a defect which affects blood flow through the heart because the left side of the heart was not formed properly, according to a GoFundMe created to raise money for his treatment.  Doctors warned Cand's parents that he could only make it a few hours, or overnight, when he was young. Despite his early prognosis, he has lived to be 26 years old, although he has been in "inhumane" amounts of pain.  C…

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by Morgan Gonzales
Dorchester, MA
Your Community
Boston Helps Man With Congenital Heart Defect Get Life-Saving Procedure Boston Helps Man With Congenital Heart Defect Get Life-Saving Procedure
Boston Helps Man With Congenital Heart Defect Get Life-Saving Procedure February is American Heart Month, and some Bostonians are celebrating by donating to help a young man who is undergoing an experimental, life-saving heart procedure.  Cole Cand was born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, a defect which affects blood flow through the heart because the left side of the heart was not formed properly, according to a GoFundMe created to raise money for his treatment.  Doctors warned Cand's parents that he could only make it a few hours, or overnight, when he was young. Despite his early prognosis, he has lived to be 26 years old, although he has been in "inh…

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by Morgan Gonzales
Towson, MD
Breaking News
Maryland Man Who Made History With Pig Heart Transplant Dies 2 Months Later Maryland Man Who Made History With Pig Heart Transplant Dies 2 Months Later
Maryland Man Who Made History With Pig Heart Transplant Dies 2 Months Later The Maryland man who became the first person in the world to receive a heart transplant from a pig died on Tuesday, March 8. David Bennett, 57, died at University of Maryland Medical Center, just two months after the historic surgery.  He had been living with severe heart disease and opted for surgery as the best option — the other being death. "It was either die or do this transplant. I want to live. I know it's a shot in the dark, but it's my last choice," said Bennett, a day before the surgery. "I look forward to getting out of bed after I recover." A hospital spokeswoman told the Ne…

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by Cecilia Levine
Franklin Township, NJ
Breaking News
Faced With Death, Man Becomes First Human To Get Heart Transplant From Pig Faced With Death, Man Becomes First Human To Get Heart Transplant From Pig
Faced With Death, Man Becomes First Human To Get Heart Transplant From Pig David Bennett had two options: Die or get a heart transplant from a genetically-modified pig. The 57-year-old Maryland resident opted for the latter and is doing well days after the procedure. The transplant was performed by surgeons with the University of Maryland School of Medicine at the University of Maryland Medical Center. The patient, David Bennett, is being monitored over the next days and weeks to make sure the transplant continues to be a success. He was ineligible for a conventional heart transplant at UMMC as well as at several other leading transplant centers after a review o…

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by Joe Gomez
Garfield-Lodi, NJ
Your Community
Lodi Woman Shares Heart Transplant Story to Raise Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Lodi Woman Shares Heart Transplant Story to Raise Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness
Lodi Woman Shares Heart Transplant Story to Raise Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Story and photos courtesy of NJ Sharing Network Family and friends of Gina Westhoven love her energetic personality and zest for life. She takes pride in her life-saving work as an EMT with Englewood Volunteer Ambulance Corp. and as a business owner. She has a great love for traveling to some of the world’s most-beautiful beaches and enjoys chilling with her mom, family, friends and her 70-pound pit bull Micki. But four years ago, Gina began to face serious health issues for the first time in her life. She constantly felt zapped of energy, and, at times, she struggled to breathe and cou…

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by Valerie Musson
Elizabeth, NJ
Breaking News
'Dream Became Reality': Linden Firefighter Inspires With Organ Transplant Story 'Dream Became Reality': Linden Firefighter Inspires With Organ Transplant Story
'Dream Became Reality': Linden Firefighter Inspires With Organ Transplant Story A Linden firefighter is opening up about his heart transplant in an effort to raise awareness toward the importance of organ and tissue donation. Knowing heart disease runs in his family, Mathew Pribish went in for a routine cardiology checkup more than a decade ago. "I wanted to make sure that, as a firefighter, my heart was healthy," Pribish said. During one of those checkups, the firefighter was told that he has Marfan Syndrome, a connective tissue disorder that affects the heart, joints and other parts of the body. In 2013, after being monitored for a few years, Pribish's aortic root…

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by Cecilia Levine
Paterson, NJ
Obituaries
'Princess Leilani' Of Paterson, 10, Succumbs To Rare Heart Condition 'Princess Leilani' Of Paterson, 10, Succumbs To Rare Heart Condition
'Princess Leilani' Of Paterson, 10, Succumbs To Rare Heart Condition Leilani Cameron of Paterson was a miracle all her life. Born with a rare heart condition, doctors didn't think she'd make it past birth. A true warrior, Leilani lived 10 years -- and had a smile on her face through it all. Leilani -- who had a heart transplant at 3 years old -- began experiencing heart complications earlier this year. She was waiting several months for a new heart but went into cardiac arrest on Aug. 19 and passed away. More than $16,000 had been raised on a GoFundMe as of Monday morning for Leilani's family. She was remembered for her smile and vivaciousness. Leilan…

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by Cecilia Levine
Elizabeth, NJ
Your Community
'Upbeat' Twin Brothers From Summit Need Funds For Heart Surgery 'Upbeat' Twin Brothers From Summit Need Funds For Heart Surgery
'Upbeat' Twin Brothers From Summit Need Funds For Heart Surgery Edwin and Edward are well known to diners at Village Trattoria in Summit, where the twins work. Described as "upbeat" and "dedicated," they now need the public's help to deal with some costly medical issues.  Both suffer from cardiomyopathy, a serious heart defect. To treat the condition, both were to receive a left ventricular assist device, which will help keep their hearts pumping. The devices will likely serve as "bridges" to heart transplants for the men.  A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to assist the brothers, who have missed work due to their ongoing medical issues.&n…

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by Paul Milo
Beekman-Poughquag, NY
Your Community
Heart Transplant Gives Triathlete The Gift of Life Heart Transplant Gives Triathlete The Gift of Life
Heart Transplant Gives Triathlete The Gift of Life Battling a life-threatening illness is challenging enough, but when confronted with a second debilitating health condition, Elisabeth Kepley knew she was in for a different kind of fight.  “It almost took me out,” said Kepley of her Stage 4 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma diagnosis in 2006. “My organs were shutting down, and I was very sick,” recalled the single mother of three. “Ten years later, though in remission, I learned that the chemotherapy used to treat my cancer had nearly destroyed my heart.” In fall 2016, Kepley was visiting her son in Colorado when her heart began to fail…

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Content Partner: Westchester Medical Center