A woman on her way to a heart transplant just one day after Thanksgiving still has a lot to be thankful for after New York State Police troopers rescued her from being stuck in a blizzard.
On Friday, November 29, a 64-year-old woman, who uses a battery-operated heart pump, and her husband traveled by car from Rochester, NY, to the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio for her transplant surgery.
However, according to a New York State Police statement reviewed by PEOPLE, the couple got stuck while commuting on New York State Route 5 near Portland due to road conditions in the middle of a snowstorm.
“Before the situation became critical, the husband contacted a nurse from the Cleveland Clinic,” the statement said. “That nurse was able to contact the state police and the officers were able to maintain continuous contact and locate them with the NYSP support vehicle.”
New York State Police officers at the Jamestown Airport on November 29, 2024.
New York State Police
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After finding the stranded couple, officers transported the woman to the Portland Fire Department, then to Westfield Memorial Hospital and later to Jamestown Airport, where she was airlifted to the Cleveland Clinic for surgery.
New York State Police shared the rescue mission on Facebook, where a woman claiming to be the daughter of a heart transplant patient commented: “Words can never express the overwhelming gratitude my family and I have for you… That’s my mom who you saved!”
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Woman thanks New York State Police.
Facebook/New York State Police
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“This is an incredible story of perseverance and coordination,” the NYSP wrote in a statement. “The actions of soldiers, medical personnel and transport teams highlight how critical teamwork and quick thinking can save lives, even in difficult weather conditions.”
“It is heartening to see such commitment to provide a patient with a potentially life-saving heart transplant despite the challenges presented by the snowstorm,” continued the statement, which did not identify the couple.
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Source: HIS Education