CHICAGO (WLS) -- Some fast-acting Illinois State troopers stopped a heart transplant from falling victim to a flat tire - just in time for Thanksgiving.
An organ transplant vehicle carrying a human heart and three workers from the University of Chicago Medical Center blew a tire near I-55 and Throop on Wednesday.
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"Time is of the essence when it comes to transplant surgery," hospital spokesperson Ashley Heher. "There is about a four to six hour window of time for a heart to remain viable for surgery and the team had already been traveling for approximately 3 hours."
Trooper Cibrian and Trooper Snisko rushed the precious cargo and the staffers to the hospital in their squad car.
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They arrived in time to save the heart and made it possible for doctors to perform the surgery in a timely manner. The hospital said the transplant recipient is recovering.