After she was turned away by other hospitals for a heart transplant, Phyllis Weissblum felt they were sending her home to die. She was deemed too old and the case too complex. NYU Langone Health (NYULH) welcomed her, and Phyllis had a successful heart transplant surgery after just 2 days on the waitlist. To celebrate Phyllis’ 75th birthday, we surprised her with the film, Hearts for Phyllis. The film tells her story post-transplant. We launched the film on her 75th birthday, March 1st 2022, and encouraged viewers to give her as many hearts (likes) as possible.

The film told the story of one patient, humanizing NYULH’s best-in-class transplant program. The film shows what it takes to bring a heart to a patient. We follow the heart’s journey and the physicians who deliver it amidst anything. Her story reinforces the high stakes and rapid responses required for critical organ transplants. Launched on her birthday, we encouraged viewers to give her hearts.

Hearts for Phyllis was posted through paid and organic on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Also geo-targeted paid social in greater NYC, all linking to the full story of Phyllis on the NYU Langone Health site: https://nyulangone.org/news/how-nyu-langone-built-one-nations-top-heart-transplant-programs-less-three-years. Surrounding the main film were personal videos of Phyllis, and interviews with her heart transplant team.

In total, Phyllis received 117,622 hearts (likes) on social media.  More importantly, Phyllis saw the film too and responded on social media saying, “Thank you Dr. R for accepting me that night. It was a miracle that brought me to NYU the best team in the world. Love you all!”