Family Hears Loved One’s Heart Beat Again

There wasn't a dry eye in the room at Westchester Medical Center when the mother, sister and grandmother of A.J. Perrelli met the recipients of four of Perrelli's donated organs.

Perrelli, then 26, passed away unexpectedly six years ago. Previously, he had expressed his desire to be an organ donor and his family honored his wish, donating multiple organs for transplantation to those whose lives depended on it.

Two of those in need were Mircea Pantea and Sergio Castaneda, both of whom were on transplant waiting lists at Westchester Medical Center. Pantea was in need of a kidney and a liver. Castaneda needed a heart and a kidney.

Through the selfless actions of Perrelli and his family, along with the skillful work of our heart and intra-abdominal transplant teams, Pantea and Castaneda received their lifesaving transplants. Both are healthy and doing well today and agreed to meet with Perrelli's family for a very special get-together.

News12 and Eyewitness News were on hand to capture all of the meeting's emotions along with the moment Perrelli's family heard his heart beat again.