Double transplant patient unfurls Bear Down flag at Chicago Bears game

Advocate Health Care patient Santiago Rosario who underwent a heart and kidney transplant was recognized as a special guest of the Chicago Bears during Sunday’s Bear Down Flag Ceremony.

Santiago helped unfurl the flag at Soldier Field before the Bears took on the Minnesota Vikings.

This special experience was a way for Santiago to celebrate his health with his family after a long journey that led to both a heart and kidney transplant.

It’s been more than three years since Santiago – a healthy and active man who enjoys running and never misses his annual physical – felt very sick after his normal workout in June 2021 with chest pain and like he had food poisoning. Knowing something was very wrong, Santiago didn’t hesitate to seek care and asked his sister to take him to the emergency room. There, he learned he was having a massive heart attack and went into cardiogenic shock, meaning the heart could not pump enough blood to his other organs. This resulted not only in heart failure, but also kidney failure. To survive, Santiago needed two new organs.

Luckily, Santiago was matched for both organs and received a double transplant surgery the next month at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.

Then his recovery began. The traumatic ordeal left Santiago weak and he had to rehabilitate, learning how to walk again.

Now he’s back to running and his active lifestyle. Santiago, now 52, who worked from the age of 16 for the Chicago Park District, was also able to return for his final years of his career before retiring as planned at age 50. He started as a lifeguard and advanced to become an aquatics trainer at the park district.

Since his transplant, Santiago has also returned to Christ, as well as Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center where he first went to the emergency room, to thank everyone who cared for him. From his physicians to nurses to those who kept his room clean.

“Thank you doesn’t cover it,” he said. “They all played a part in saving my life.”

One of Santiago’s Advocate Health Care physicians, cardiologist Dr. William Cotts, said he is a shining example of strength, perseverance and listening to your body.

“Santiago knew something was off and immediately sought out care,” said Dr. Cotts. “And his attitude is inspiring.”