Justin’s Journey to a Heart Transplant

17-year-old Northwell patient Justin made history as the recipient of the first pediatric heart transplant on Long Island. Our short documentary, “Justin’s Journey to a Heart Transplant,” chronicles Justin’s courageous battle with acute heart failure culminating in a lifesaving transplant, as well as the medical team at Cohen Children's Medical Center that made this milestone possible.
"Justin's Journey to a Heart Transplant," interweaves intimate storytelling with the high-stakes drama of a life-or-death medical procedure. We were able to capture crucial moments within the operating room, like the placement and first beat of Justin's new heart. But at the center of the narrative is a very human element: the relationship between a father and his teenage son.
Dynamic visual storytelling, intimate framing, and sound design weave together these emotional beats while honoring the gravity of the procedure. We brought viewers inside the operating room—an experience few ever witness—by using a fly-on-the-wall approach. With an agile, one-person crew, we followed Justin’s evolving story in real time—never knowing exactly when the transplant call would come. When it did, we moved with the same urgency as the surgical team to be there and capture every moment.
This project demanded flexibility, intuition, and trust, driven by a deep respect for the real people at the center of it all. The result is a film that informs, uplifts, and inspires: a story of resilience, hope, and life itself.