Two families are united forever after a landmark surgery involving an HIV-positive heart transplant. From Baton Rouge to the Bronx, her two families united in the heartbeat of Miriam Nieves. A heart donated by Brittany Newton’s family. God gave me some, but this is a big one. 62-year-old Miriam contracted HIV during years of substance abuse. She has been clean for the past 30 years. However, her kidneys began to fail, and doctors in her system at Montefiore Health in New York City considered her transplant. But they decided her heart wouldn’t survive surgery, so she was put on the list for both organs. , felt that she would fall into her category.She will not compete with anyone else in the country.Watch the video above.For more on this story.
Two families are united forever after a landmark surgery involving an HIV-positive heart transplant.
From Baton Rouge to the Bronx, two families united in the heartbeat of Miriam Nieves.
Heart donated by Brittany Newton’s family.
“I’m so grateful, so grateful. God gave me some, but this is a big one. This saved my life, so thank you,” Nieves said.
Miriam, 62, contracted HIV during years of substance abuse.
She has been clean for the past 30 years.
But her kidneys began to fail, and doctors at New York City’s Montefiore Health System considered a transplant.
However, they determined that her heart could not withstand surgery, so she was put on the list for both organs.
“We felt that if we did this, she would be in her category. She wouldn’t compete with anyone else in the country,” said Dr. Omar Said of Montefiore Health System.
For more on this story, watch the video above.
