Unfortunately it wasn't all luck for Jorge Bacardi. In total, he saved the lives of four other patients: Nic, Carolyn, Mac, and Xavier. The film is based on the real-life story of Jorge Bacardi. His new lease on life and Christophers role in it is even mentioned in Jorges obituary. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. What matters is that they are alive. And during that emotion-filled reunion the Bacardis shared with us their plans to construct a house of care at the Mayo Clinic, and name it for Chris. Aenean massa. Mayo Clinic does not endorse any of the third party products and services advertised. Bacardi named his angel Gabriel by himself. The movie is based on the true story of Christopher Gregory and Jorge Bacardi yes, of the rum empire whose last name has been changed to Bolivar in 2 Hearts. Gregory passed away from a brain aneurysm at the age of 43 in 2007. A Cuban exile, Jorge had forged a successful career heading a spirits company. We pray for our son, and for donors everywhere. Likewise, the film is available to stream on Netflix now. He placed greater value in relationships with people than with objects to be possessed. Then the letter arrived. He was raised in New York City and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in business administration, according to his obituary in the Austin American-Statesman. He had finally begun to focus on his studies and career. They also helped fund a care home at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, where Jorge underwent his life-saving surgery, for accommodating patients receiving long-term treatments for cancer and organ transplant. The families remained in touch until Jorge's death on September 23, 2020, less than a month before the release of the 2 Hearts movie.In 2011, Jorge and his wife funded The Gabriel House of Care on the Mayo Clinic's Jacksonville campus where Jorge had his transplant surgery. Submit a correction suggestion and help us fix it! The building offers long-term housing to oncology and transplant patients who are being treated at the clinic. Twelve years ago, Jorge Bacardi received a double lung transplant from his donor Christopher. His only answer to cure was a double lung transplant! Chris Gregory was a real college student who died, and his act of organ donation helped five other recipients, including the real Jorge Bacardi, who actually did need a lung transplant. Its now streaming on Netflix. Image Credit: Donate Life Arizona/ Twitter, closest to the incredible sequence of events. Before his death, Christopher had mentioned that he would like to have his organs donated. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. The film is based on the real-life story of Jorge Bacardi of the Bacardi Rum dynasty and Christopher Gregory, an organ donor who tragically and suddenly passed away at the age of 19 from a brain aneurysm. The care house, which is located in the Mayo Clinic hospital campus in Jacksonville, where Jorge underwent his lifesaving lung transplant using Christophers lungs, was named in honor of Eric and Graces late son. separated by time and connected in the most unlikely of ways, suffered from a congenital lung disease called primary ciliary dyskinesia. The world is not as happy a place as it would be if he were still alive. In the years following his lung transplant, the Bacardi executive was able to undertake outdoor activities and acknowledged that his lung capacity tested at 128 percent. Bacardi was so moved by the story that he donated his liver to Gregory, who was then able to live a full and healthy life. But that is only part of Chris story. Can A Child With Developmental Delays Catch Up? The result from this meeting was an idea to open a facility where patients and families could live together while someone was waiting for an operation at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, the same hospital where his surgery was performed. After receiving the transplant he wanted to honor Christopher, so he gave the gift of Gabriel House. They read, "To Gabriel and his family: I am the recipient of a gift from your son that is beyond repayment. Think about a patient with Lou Gehrig's disease, or diabetes. The operation was a success and left Jorge, for the first time, breathing through a set of fully functioning lungs. (Detailed Guide). The true story behind 2 Hearts confirms that Chris's family was by his side in the hospital during his final days. Yes, it sure is! Leslie says the couple was amazed by a segment on ABC's "Nightline," a late-night television news program, which showed beating heart tissue that Mayo Clinic researchers had developed from the skin tissue of one of the program's reporters. The experiences that Eric had during the last few days of his sons life and the days immediately after inspired him to pen and share them. Just before saying our good-byes to Chris, Joe took me off to the side. 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The performers Jacob, Jordan, and Tiera jetted off to the U.S. state in the Western United States before filming began because Tiera had never actually visited before. The action is set in a barely defined place and time with Jorges tale beginning. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscit. Before his death, the teenager decided to donate his organs. It was then that they learned he had previously opted to become an organ donor. And this inspirational, true story is a beautiful example of God's amazing design for our lives! Prayer is extolled, characters make the Sign of the Cross, and theres a priest. Jorge and his wife Leslie came to visit us at our home in Maryland in July 2009. As for the Hawaii locations, the team made the most of sights in, Preproduction work and some postproduction was done at Santa Fe Studios, while the movie was filmed in. Bring your Kleenex, you may shed a tear or two. The Bacardis made the lead gift to St. Andrews Lighthouse, Inc. to support the opening of Gabriel House of Care. He was generous. As a result, he had to breathe through a tube in his chest. 2 Hearts is based on a true story, so lets get the events and people which inspired the 2020 movie explained. "We are very grateful for the Bacardis' gift, which will accelerate our ability to provide regenerative medicine solutions to patients," says Dr. Gonwa, who is also chair of the Department of Transplantation at Mayo Clinic in Florida. They were the most beautiful people Ive ever met, said one friend, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the case. This is death. Just like that. Instead of waiting for an ambulance, his friends carried him to their car and rushed him to the Tulane University Medical Center where the diagnosis was eventually made. You may recognize that name from the brand of rum Jorge is of the Bacardi Rum dynasty. Jorges lungs were so weak that he couldnt get enough oxygen into his blood to sustain his life. His parents and two older . Organ donation represents humanity at its very best. Can you imagine that? On Wednesday, September 23rd, 2020, Jorge Enrique Bacardi, loving husband of Leslie Bacardi, passed away peacefully alongside his wife of 46 years, at their residence in Lyford Cay at the age of 76. 2 Hearts is a 2020 American romantic drama film directed by Lance Hool and starring Jacob Elordi, Adan Canto, Tiera Skovbye and Radha Mitchell. The excitement with which we look forward to the advancement of regenerative medicine will keep us hopeful for solutions to many medical mysteries.". Our site uses cookies to personalize features and, via third-parties, to collect metrics on usage so that we can better tailor our site to the needs of our users. Grace, who is a registered nurse, is now working in Pheonix, from what we can tell. The Bacardis' gift establishes the Jorge and Leslie Bacardi Fund in Regenerative Medicine honoring Cesar A. Keller, M.D., the physician who provided care to Jorge before and after his double-lung transplant and who is currently involved in regenerative medicine lung research. He was born with a congenital heart defect, which meant that his heart was too small to pump enough blood through his body to keep his lungs healthy. He was funny, and compassionate, and uniquely his own man. Give today. The gears of a massive logistical machine had already been set in motion. Jorge Bacardi passed away on September 23, 2020, at his home in the exclusive gated community Lyford Cay in the Bahamas. Their gift also will be used to greatly accelerate regenerative medicine work at Mayo Clinic's Florida campus, and will establish the Jorge and Leslie Bacardi Associate Director for the Center for Regenerative Biotherapeutics in Florida, a position currently held by Thomas A. Gonwa, M.D. Jorge wanted to do something to give back for the blessing he had received. However, he had finally begun to turn a corner. Care was funded by Jorge and his wife after he was diagnosed with cancer. The 2 Hearts true story reveals that the real Leslie was indeed working as a Pan Am flight attendant when she met Jorge Bacardi. The notes from Chris friends were especially touching. In his early sixties, Jorge was on oxygen and near death's door. The 19-year old was a freshman at Loyola University, New Orleans, at the time. Jorge got to learn all about Chris, the 19-year-old who saved his life. The care house that she and her husband helped establish, as well as a fund for research on regenerative medicine at the Mayo Clinic, continue to support the field that gave her husband a new lease on life. 2 Hearts is the true story of 19 year old Christopher Gregory, who died from a brain aneurysm and whose organs were donated to several people, saving their lives. The only thing that could save Jorge's life was a double lung transplant. Jorge Bacardi, whose family has manufactured rum and other spirits for 150 years, suffered since childhood with primary ciliary dyskinesia, a debilitating lung disease that nearly ended his life. The 19-year old was a freshman at Loyola University, New Orleans, at the time. His life-saving angel is honored in 2 Hearts, which was also funded by the grateful organ receiver and his wife. By he was 50 years old, the doctors diagnosed him with primary ciliary dyskinesia. Christophers organs were donated to five people, one of them being Jorge. Dont expect to hear anything we had been told. How old was Jorge Bacardi when he got his transplant? Eric and Grace Gregory are the parents of Christopher Gregory, who unexpectedly died of a ruptured brain aneurysm in March 2008. That's what regenerative medicine is all about, trying to use this technology and trying to make what it appears to be science fiction to be a fact. He had a bright future ahead until he collapsed from a brain aneurysm. Stay current with the Brain Aneurysm Foundation. His girlfriend was also present. And dont expect much if you do. But that evening, while he sorted through the important documents his wife would need, he received a call that there was a match. Chris had been gone only 12 weeks when we got a call from LOPA. Yes, it is! The companys brands include rum, brandy, gin, vodka, tequila, rum-based liqueurs and other spirits. When his grandfather was in home hospice, during Chris senior year in high school, Chris would drive out of his way after school to check up on him. Jorge was diagnosed with this disease when he was a child. He was nineteen years old, and a freshman at Loyola University New Orleans. One of those couples is Jorge and Leslie Bacardi, who, being at their wits end with Jorges worsening health condition, find a life-saving miracle in the tragic death of Christopher, whose lungs are donated to Jorge and end up saving his life. Our lives are strengthened by friendships founded in gratitude and built on respect. "Of course Im an organ donor. Your email address will not be published. Because every day that they wake up they can love someone. How Long Should A Child Brush Their Teeth? . What am I going to do with my organs after Im gone. And then with a twinkle in his eye that was uniquely Chris he continued, "And besides, who wouldnt want THIS body? That was the Thursday before Easter in 2008. The process of donating a childs organs is neither simple nor quick. Jorge, then 64, had a plane available at a moment's notice in case a pair of lungs ever showed up on the donor list. I hope so. But as soon as we were asked, there was no need for hesitation. His parents and two older brothers rushed to New Orleans to be by his side. Raised in Maryland, Chris Gregory was a 19-year-old freshman at Loyola University in New Orleans, a Jesuit college. . "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.org," "Mayo Clinic Healthy Living," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Christopher's organs were donated to five people, one of them being Jorge. A year later he finally learned of Christoper's identity and fate. You may recognize that name from the brand of rum Jorge is of the Bacardi Rum dynasty. As it turned out, Christopher had registered as an organ donor when he got his driver's license three years prior. According to Leslie, Jorge asked her to hold his hand to keep him calm during the landing. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This content does not have an Arabic version. The movie is an adaptation of the book All . In the movie, Jorge meets his future wife Leslie while he is on an airplane and she is working as a flight attendant. During that time, they pumped him full of steroids and other drugs to make him stronger and healthier. Bacardi, whose family has manufactured rum and other spirits for 150 years, suffered since childhood with primary ciliary dyskinesia, a debilitating lung disease that nearly ended his life. That book "All my Tomorrows: A Story of Tragedy, Transplant, and Hope" has been adapted by Netflix into the 2021 film "2 Hearts." What was wrong with Chris in 2 Hearts? Bacardi had a lung problem since his childhood. October 20, 2020 | Rating: The film is based on the real-life story of Jorge Bacardi of the Bacardi Rum dynasty and Christopher Gregory, an organ donor who tragically and suddenly passed away at the age of 19 from a. That miracle came from thousands of miles away thanks to a generous stranger who suffered an unfortunate fate. Make a gift today to support regenerative medicine at Mayo Clinic. He needed a miracle to survive much longer. And there is Xavier, who has one of Chris kidneys, and Carolyn who has his liver. We miss him every day. Similar to what's seen in the movie, the true story reveals that he collapsed while hanging out in a friend's apartment. "Theres planes flying all over the country tonight because of your boy, he said. He never saw it coming and neither did we. Yes. He received Christopher's lungs. So too is Mac, who received Christophers heart, and is alive today, and keeps postponing his plans for retirement. It matters that Christophers organ recipients are alive because each of them is important to someone. He valued friendship. You will never receive medications to battle rejection. They made the gift in honor of Cesar A. Keller, M.D., one of the doctors involved in his care before the lung transplant arrived. The doctors told them Christopher had suffered a brain aneurysm and he was not likely to survive. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. The crucial organ transplant that saved the life of Jorge Bacardi set in motion a sequence of events that have resulted in much support for the medical community, especially in regenerative medicine. Keep him calm during the landing his studies and career the action set. Opening of Gabriel House of Care by time and connected in the Bahamas finally learned Christoper... 'S disease, or diabetes other spirits is beyond repayment nineteen years old, and website in browser. Blood to sustain his life Andrews Lighthouse, Inc. to support the opening of Gabriel House nor! A success and left Jorge, for the next time I comment his... Into his blood to sustain his life design for our lives are strengthened by friendships founded in and. 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