A woman en route for a heart transplant just a day after Thanksgiving has much to appreciate after New York State Police troopers came to her aid during a snowstorm.
On Friday, Nov. 29, a 64-year-old woman reliant on a battery-powered heart pump and her husband were en route by car from Rochester, N.Y., to the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio for her upcoming transplant surgery.
According to a release from New York State Police that was reviewed by PEOPLE, the couple found themselves stranded while traveling on New York State Route 5 near Portland because of the road conditions during the snowstorm.
“Before the situation became critical, the husband made contact with a nurse from Cleveland Clinic,” the statement read. “That nurse was able to contact the state police, and troopers were able to maintain continuous contact and locate them with an NYSP Utility Task Vehicle.”
Following the rescue of the stranded couple, law enforcement officials took the woman to the Portland Fire Department, then to Westfield Memorial Hospital, and subsequently to Jamestown Airport, where she was airlifted to Cleveland Clinic for surgery.
The New York State Police posted about the rescue mission on Facebook, where a woman who identified herself as the daughter of the heart transplant patient expressed, “Words will never express the extreme gratitude my family and I have for you … “You saved my mother!”
“This is an incredible story of perseverance and coordination,” NYSP wrote in their statement. “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,” continued the statement, which did not disclose the couple’s names.