New York (WABC) – Surgery on Mount Sinai made history and leased a new life to a 64-year-old man.
The doctors performed the first triple heart, liver and kidney organ transplant in New York State.
This is a very rare procedure, with only 58 people being carried out in the country.
Mack Godbee lives her best life after not one but three organ transplants.
The 64-year-old acquired a new heart, liver and kidneys in a single marathon operation at Mount Sinai.
“It was about 22 hours. It's interesting for me, but as soon as I start operating, I feel the case is 15 minutes,” Dr. Sandy Froman said.
Dr. Sandy Froman performed both the liver and kidney parts of the surgery.
Dr. Noah Moss is a Godby psychologist.
“We talk about being alive, but we talk about being alive. He lives a much better life than he used to,” Dr. Noah Moss said.
What brought Godby to this point?
Godbee's career involves saving lives.
He is the captain of the town's ambulance squad in Peakskill and a previous receiver of heart transplants.
His first one, well, longed expectations.
“His heart transplant has been going on for 23 years. I've heard that in 23 years, there's a price to pay just to get older just by taking medication,” Dr. Froman said.
Godby's kidneys and liver were paying for it, and his heart faded to the point where he fell in his driveway.
“I opened the back of the car to get my flashlight. That's all,” Godby said.
His 23-year-old daughter played CPR and saved her life.
She tagged in his CPR class and learned those skills about 10 years ago.
“I'm proud of her and I'm grateful to her,” Godby said.
“The risk of death is very high. There's a very high chance that you won't get out of the operating room,” Dr. Froman said.
Godby's survival highlights the power of organ donation and opens the door to others like him in the future.
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