A woman is transported by troopers for a heart transplant amid a snowfall

Rochester, New York – On Friday, New York State Troopers responded to assist a 64-year-old woman who had departed from the Rochester area with her husband, heading to the Cleveland Clinic for a heart transplant. A couple found themselves stranded while traveling on State Route 5 in Portland, facing severe snow and challenging road conditions.

According to troopers, the 64-year-old woman was equipped with a battery-powered heart pump.
Prior to the situation escalating, her husband contacted a nurse from the Cleveland Clinic for assistance. The nurse successfully reached out to the State Police. Troopers successfully found one of their Utility Task Vehicles while keeping in continuous communication with the couple.

Troopers devised a strategy to move the woman first to the Portland Fire Department and subsequently to Westfield Memorial Hospital. Subsequently, troopers took her to the Jamestown Airport in Chautauqua County, where she was then flown to the Cleveland Clinic for her heart transplant.

“The efforts of the Troopers, medical personnel, and transportation crews underscore the vital role of collaboration and swift decision-making in preserving lives, even amidst challenging weather circumstances,” stated NYSP. “It’s encouraging to witness the commitment to securing a life-saving heart transplant for a patient, even in the face of the difficulties brought on by the snowstorm.”

During the winter storm that occurred from Thanksgiving to December 1, the New York State Police reported significant activity in the southern regions of Western New York, particularly along the I-90 corridor from Erie County to the Pennsylvania state line. Troopers provided assistance to 110 disabled vehicles, looked into 79 property damage collisions, and examined seven personal injury collisions.