A Nassau-NYPD police escort, and a new liver

Two Nassau County police officers helped save an Atlantic Beach Estates woman's life last week, driving her to Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx in the midst of the nor'easter for a liver transplant.

Maryann "Mak" Steinbock, 59, received word early last Friday morning that a liver from a 41-year-old woman who had died of a stroke was available at Montefiore, but she needed to get there by 10:30 a.m. for the potentially life-saving procedure. But Steinbock, who was suffering from liver failure, was snowed in at home, so Montefiore officials contacted the Nassau County Police Department's 4th Precinct at around 9 a.m. to see if they could help get her to the hospital in time.

Officer Robert Prince picked Steinbock up in a department-issued four-wheel-drive Chevy Tahoe, and was followed by officer Jacek Trybala in a squad car with Steinbock's husband, Corey. The officers drove over the Atlantic Beach Bridge, and on the Van Wyck Expressway in Queens they were given an NYPD escort to Montefiore. Marianne arrived at 10:22 a.m., just eight minutes before the scheduled transplant. "I want to thank the 4th Precinct for getting me here safely in the snowstorm," said a very grateful Steinbock from her Montefiore Hospital bed on Tuesday afternoon. "We just have so much gratitude."

"There are not enough accolades to say what these people have done," said Corey Steinbock. "It is nice to know that you can count on your local police force in a time of emergency."

During the trip to the hospital, the 4th Precinct's commanding officer, Inspector Christopher Cleary said, he and other officers huddled around a radio in the department's Hewlett headquarters to see if Steinbock would make it. "It was a big sigh of relief when we learned she got there in time," Cleary said. "I'm proud of them for the work they did."

Late Friday, Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano issued a statement lauding Prince and Trybala for their efforts, and followed up with calls of thanks on Monday. "Without the actions of these officers, this woman would not have made it in time and probably would have lost her chance for a life-saving transplant," said Mangano. "They are true heroes."

Cleary said he was impressed not only by the efforts of the officers, but by the coordination between the Nassau County and New York City police and the hospital. "It was a tremendous effort on a lot of people's parts," Cleary said.

Steinbock's daughter Allie Kornbluth said the staff at Montefiore has been exemplary in how they have treated her family. "The hospital has been nothing short of amazing," said Kornbluth. "They have been helping us live this miracle."

Corey Steinbock said his wife was recovering well from the transplant and he is hoping she will be able to return home soon. "When I saw her Saturday night," he said, "she was blossoming like a flower."

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