Troopers Help Medical Team Get Heart To Transplant Patient

CHICAGO, IL — Time is of the essence when it comes to a transplant surgery. And thanks to the quick actions and teamwork of two Illinois State Police troopers and a University of Chicago Medicine team transporting a recently procured heart, a heart transplant patient is now recovering at a Chicago hospital.

The patient's heart almost didn't make it in time, according to the Illinois State Police. The transport vehicle was en route with the heart from Midway Airport to University of Chicago Medicine when its team— a surgeon, a transplant coordinator and a medical student — was forced to pull over on northbound Interstate 55 at Throop Street around 4:20 a.m. Tuesday because of a flat tire.

State Police troopers were initially called to the scene for a motor assist. When Troopers David Cibrian and Raymond Snisko arrived, they realized how important it was to get the medical team and the heart to the University of Chicago Medicine as soon as possible, police said.

"Without hesitation, they transported the three people and the donor organ to the academic medical center," according to the ISP news release.

The heart arrived in time, and the doctors were able to complete the surgery. The heart transplant patient is now recovering following the successful surgery, said Ashley Heher, director of media relations and breaking news for UChicago Medicine.

The heart had been in transit for about three hours when the medical team's vehicle became disabled. There is only about a four- to six-hour window for a heart to remain "viable for surgery," Heher said in a statement.

"Time is of the essence when it comes to transplant surgery," she said.

State Police Interim Capt. Angelo Mollo said the quick actions of the troopers turned "a potentially bad situation into a thankful ending for at least one family this Thanksgiving holiday."

"I am extremely proud of our officers who acted without hesitation in this life-saving transport," Mollo said. "I am equally proud of the hard work all of our troopers do each and every day in keeping our roadways safe, and those hearts that travel upon them even safer.”

Authorities are also reminding drivers to slow down and move over to an adjacent lane, if possible, when they see a vehicle disabled on the side of the road.