By Geoff Herbert
syracuse.com
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — New York State Troopers say they rescued a woman who was stranded in a snowstorm over the weekend as she was on her way to get a heart transplant.
A 64-year-old woman left the Rochester area with her husband on Friday to get the transplant at the Cleveland Clinic when they ended up stuck on State Route 5 in the Chautauqua County town of Portland. She had a battery-powered heart pump when the snow and road conditions worsened, troopers said.
The woman’s husband contacted a nurse from the clinic, who contacted New York State Police to locate the couple with a NYSP Utility Task Vehicle. Troopers transported the woman to the Jamestown Airport in Chautauqua County clear of the storm and she was flown by plane out of the area to Cleveland Clinic for the heart transplant.
“This is an incredible story of perseverance and coordination! The actions of the Troopers, medical staff, and transportation teams highlight how critical teamwork and quick thinking can save lives, even in the face of severe weather conditions. It’s heartening to see such dedication to ensuring a patient received a life-saving heart transplant despite the challenges posed by the snowstorm,” said Trooper James O’Callaghan, Troop A Public Information Officer.
The woman has not been identified, but a Facebook user thanked police on behalf of her family.
“Words will never express the extreme gratitude my family and I have for you,” they wrote. “That’s my mom you saved! God bless each and every one of the officers involved in helping her get to safety and get her to her hopefully new heart.”
The incident was one of more than 100 incidents involving troopers assisting disabled vehicles and collisions along I-90 from Erie County to the Pennsylvania state line between Thanksgiving and Sunday, police said.
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