LI's 1st Triple-Organ Transplant Patient 'Happy About This Chance'

MANHASSET, NY — When Sergio Arias Cestoni entered the North Shore University Hospital in November for an emergency cardiac condition, which was first diagnosed in 2018, the situation turned desperate as his liver and kidney were also failing.

Cestoni, 47, would require transplants for all three organs. It would become the first-of-its-kind surgery performed on Long Island as part of the Northwell Health Transplant Institute.

He'd already been waiting two years for a heart and kidney. When he was admitted to the hospital in November, doctors determined a new liver was also necessary.

"I feel really good," Cestoni, who would be hospitalized for four months after having the 14-hour surgery in February, told Patch."I'm happy about this chance."

Cestoni, who lives in Queens, suffered from ischemic cardiomyopathy, making the normal activity of pumping blood through the heart extremely difficult.

That left Cestoni, who would do heavy lifting for his job, with the inability to walk more than a few blocks without exhaustion. He worked at a Nassau County beverage label facility.

Before the transplant, "I [had] no hope," Cestoni said of long-term survival chances.

Although Cestoni did his best to "keep positive." "But it was hard," he admitted.

The transplants needed three continuous shifts of 13 surgeons, along with several operating room nurses assisting.

"With the help of my friends and my doctors, I can do everything in the right way," Cestoni said.

As he begins the road to recovery, Cestoni is already noticing his appetite is returning and, perhaps even more important, "I'm happy again."

Cestoni knows he receives a new lease on life, thanks to the medical staff at Northwell.

"They use their knowledge to get the people back on track," he said.

He's excited to start making goals, like lacing up his sneakers to run again.

"Every week I'm trying to walk more." he said. "Now I can walk 30 minutes straight."

Once fully recovered, Cestoni also wants to resume his schooling to become an accountant and getting active with soccer.

The bucket list for Cestoni is becoming much more realized by the day. Vacationing with his wife is part of the future desires, such as traveling to his home country of El Salvador and to Italy and England.

"Everyone should try to find their happiness in life," Cestoni said.