NYPH Patients and Surgeons Run 2010 New York Marathon

[Gustavo]

Timothy Sweeney, who had double lung transplant surgery just one year ago, ran with his transplant surgeon, Joshua Sonett, MD. Timothy and Dr. Sonett ran together, stopping at mile 16 to visit with Dr. Sonett’s family, and again at the finish line to visit with Timothy’s family. According to Timothy, a 33-year-old personal trainer who has cystic fibrosis, “It was an amazing, incredible experience. It felt like a 26.2-mile standing ovation, and Dr. Sonett was my biggest cheerleader. My transplant was so successful that I never once felt my lungs during the race. The only thing I felt were my legs.”

Jessica Chipkin ran this year for the second time since her liver transplant in 2005, when her liver failed due to Wilson’s disease. This year she raised $5,660 for the American Liver Foundation, on whose team she ran. Her goals included running “in honor of the Center for Liver Disease & Transplantation (CLDT) within NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital… in honor of ALL people affected by liver disease… in honor of my donor who gave me this second chance at life… literally enabling me to run an actual marathon.” Also running with the NYP liver transplant team were Tomoaki Kato, MD, Silvia Hafliger, MD, and Francesca Brigandi, transplant coordinator. Chris Perkins, whose husband Scott donated a portion of his liver to Chris’ sister, Elizabeth, also ran and raised $6,275 for the American Liver Foundation, contributing to the total of more than $15,000 raised by the NYP liver transplant team.Benjamin Samstein, MD, who ran the marathon last year and plans to run again in 2011, accompanied Jessica for the last three miles, and many additional members of the transplant team cheered from the sidelines.

Benjamin Carey, who underwent surgery for an aortic root aneurysm exactly one year prior to this year’s marathon, ran with his heart surgeon, Allan Stewart, MD. This was the first marathon for each of them. In addition to completing the marathon, 37-year-old Benjamin has also written about his experience with open heart surgery at his web site, www.heartosaurus.com. He aims to increase awareness and screening for aortic aneurysms, “Because what happened to John Ritter could have been prevented,” he says. “I was extremely fortunate that my primary care physician sent me for a stress test and that my aneurysm was found before it ruptured.” For his part, Dr. Stewart didn’t even mind that Benjamin outran him by about a half hour. “I love seeing patients like Benjamin achieve more than they ever thought possible. It is a true gift to see someone who is such an inspiring example for other patients facing surgery.”

Although each ran for his or her individual reasons, all the participants felt elated at being part of the marathon experience. In addition to affirming the ways in which running has positively transformed all aspects of their health and lives, many echoed Dr. Hafliger’s emphasis that anyone who wants to run a marathon can achieve it, if they take it one step at a time. “Anything in life can be accomplished that way, if you make it important and make it part of your routine.” Dr. Hafliger says. She should know: it was just two years ago, as she approached age 50, that she began running. She has since run seven marathons including this year’s New York race, and will be competing in her first iron man triathlon in July 2011.