The Allgeier family. Lindsey Allgeier successfully conceived her children after receiving a heart transplant.
Andrea Budde. Andrea resuscitated her husband, Stefan, after he collapsed due to a Cardiac Sarcoidosis incident.
Alec Singh. Alec's cardiac sarcoidosis was discovered early, and is now in a manageable state.
The power of togetherness.
Animation representing Steve's afterlife experience.
Transplant and sarcoidosis survior Steve Hilfiker's daughter, Audrey, discusses her experience.
Stoneheart features a series of interviews set in Berlin.
Brandon Perkins lives with systemic sarcoidosis, which affects many of his organs.
Brantley Griffin's football.
Chasta Posey is a sarcoidosis 'thriver' and advocate. She works to advocate for people like her and help them understand the elusive disease.
Steve's donor, Daniel.
Dr. Aktas from University of Rochester
Dr. Cooper from Mayo Clinic
Dr. Feliberti from Tampa General Hospital
Dr. Heidecker from Charite in Berlin
Dr. Katlaps from Tampa General Hospital
Dr. Landmesser from Charite in Berlin
Dr. Mackie from Tampa General Hospital
Dr. Nagel from University of Rochester
Dr. Poddubnyy from Charite in Berlin
Dr. Schonrath from DHZB Berlin
Dr. Schwartz from University of Rochester
Dr. Storozynsky from Thomas Jefferson University
Dr. Vidula from University of Rochester
Behind Tom's boat shop
Nurse Rodriguez from Tampa General Hospital
Evans High School
The Griffin Family remembers Brantley
Brantley Griffin tragically lost his life at the age of thirteen. Today, his family finds meaning in helping others in Brantley's name and through the lives he saved as an organ donor.
Steve Hilfiker holds his hand over Daniel's heart.
Lisa Salberg's scarred heart.
Helene Frank lives with cardiac sarcoidosis
Helene Frank from Berlin
The Hilfiker family
Steve's four kids reminisce
Howard Nathan from the Gift of Life
Jim and Pam Gleason represent both a donor recipient (Jim) and a donor family-member (Pam). Over the years of their marriage, they have given over 500 public speeches to advocate for organ donation. Jim passed away peacefully two weeks after this interview.
Jonah Allgeier thanks his mother's heart donor, Samantha, for helping him exist.
Lake Erie
Lake Erie
Lindsey Allgeier
Lisa Salberg talks about advocacy
Liz Devivo remembers her heart and double-lung transplant in central park.
Markee Jones survived cardiac sarcoidosis after receiving a heart transplant
Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic
Micheala lives with Cardiac Sarcoidosis in Berlin
Tommy Barbara lived for 524 days on an artificial heart.
Steve speaks at the SWFL Night of Hope
People are being brought together by this story of survival and hope.
NYC
Steve prepares for his heart transplant
An organ is transported for transplantation.
Phillip Suwalski discusses sarcoidosis in Poland
Regina Simmons has had sarcoidosis for the majority of her life.
Rochester, NY
Steve climbs this mountain only 90 days after his heart transplant.
Steve Hilfiker and Nicholas Markart speak at Socially Relevant Film Festival in NYC
Stefan Brixner maintains his active lifestyle while managing cardiac sarcoidosis.
Stefan Brixner tells his story.
Steve Hilfiker and Dr. Heidecker discuss sarcoidosis.
Steve Hilfiker and Dr. Landmesser.
Steve Hilfiker and Helene Frank.
Steve Hilfiker remembers his time in the hospital.
Steve Hilfiker, a single father of four, battled undiagnosed cardiac sarcoidosis for years, and survived thanks to a heart transplant from a man named Daniel.
Stoneheart Producer Steve Hilfiker shows the short film at Cannes International Film Festival
Recovery and Resolution
Cardiac Rehabilitation technology on display at DHZB Berlin.
Steve discusses his legislative goals to stop sarcoidosis.
Steve recovers after his heart transplant surgery.
Steve Hilfiker
Steve reaches the top of the mountain
Steve speaks at the Florida Capital
Steve receives a diagnostic ultrasound
PET scan results of a heart afflicted with sarcoidosis.
Tallahassee, FL
Tommy Barbara lived for 524 days on an artificial heart pump after his original heart was lost to sarcoidosis.
Vanessa listens to her brother's heart beating in Steve's chest.
Vanessa listens to her brother's heart beating in Steve's chest.
MEET HOWARD NATHAN
The man deserves a Nobel Peace Prize!
With 44 remarkably productive years as 'The Leader' in the field of organ donation, 38 as President and CEO of The Gift of Life Donor Program in Philadelphia, Howard tells the full story of organ donation with fascinating insights that you will not want to miss.
MEET PY ADDO-BOATENG AND MARILYN
Meet PY Addo-Boateng and his mother Marilyn...
... Participants in The StoneHeart Documentary Expansion Project from Accra, Ghana.
PY and I met at the Cannes Film Festival. Marilyn has sarcoidosis.
We are excited to share the story of this family's resiliency. They are thrilled to spread awareness through Africa and tell their story to the world!
StoneHeart Documentary Expansion: production via zoom PY Addo-Boateng and Director Nick Markart
Sarcoidosis impacts people of European, African, and Asian descent (so just about everybody), but it is disproportionately high in those of African descent. We have some tremendous participants to introduce you to as we finish production and development of the film.
We are uniting the world through sarcoidosis and organ donation awareness in this emerging dramatic medical documentary! Look4it!
MEET THE GRIFFIN FAMILY
This is one of the most inspirational families in the world. Director Nick Markart and I are grateful for their participation in the emerging dramatic medical documentary 'StoneHeart'.
Matt Griffin and Mandy Wiggins Griffin are some of the best parents I've ever met. Lauren Kate (LK) is a confident 13-year-old athlete who will excel in anything she chooses to do.
Matt and Mandy raised their kids with the motto "do right, be kind."
That is now the mantra for their ministry...
https://dorightbekind.com/ Please click that...
Their 14 year old son Brantley, a hero who gave three people the Gift of Life, tragically passed away in 2019. Through their strong faith, their ministry is blessing people throughout the Evans Georgia region.
Brantley's life purpose, his light, is shining through this ministry and the three people he saved.
After interviewing four organ donor families, including the Griffins, who have experienced the pain of personal loss...
... but are overcoming it through the Gift of Life, like the sister of my donor, Vannessa Blais is experiencing right now...
...and seeing how their family is the source of saving many other lives...
... the perspective on the sad side of the story is more easily accepted and processed by understanding that there's nothing that can be done about the tragedy.
However for families that opt for the Gift of Life...
... that brings hope and meaning to the tragedy...
... It turns into a triumph!...
... where in other cases there is no closure or hope; everything just ends.
When it just ends, unless they're people of strong faith, many families have no closure and never get over grief...
Organ donor families have a new path they can take...
... Life goes on with organ donation and that is the Gift of Life!
INTRODUCING CHASTA POSEY
... A Sarcoidosis Thriver!
Participant in the StoneHeart Documentary Expansion Project. From Greenville South Carolina, this charming sarcoidosis advocate tells how her life began at age 18 with the sarcoidosis diagnosis...
... She set her mind to control the disease rather than letting it control her.
She has been a powerful advocate, a champion for sarcoidosis research! Director Nick Markart and I agree; the audience is going to love her!
MEET LISA SALBERG
Participant in the StoneHeart Documentary Expansion Project. President and CEO of the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association (HCMA). Lisa is a dynamic speaker with a charismatic personality who has a way with words!
She has the unique perspective of being a heart transplant recipient and sister of a donor, able to explain the feelings on both sides of organ donation. She can bring you to tears in one sentence and laughter in the next. I promise she will make you laugh.
She has contributed more to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy research than anyone in this entire world. Thank you Lisa, for your dedication to the HCMA. Director Nick Markart and I are thrilled for your participation in the documentary to advance the cause of organ donation.
You are amazing...
MEET STEFAN BRIXNER
A cardiac sarcoidosis warrior and participant in the StoneHeart Documentary Expansion Project.
Stefan lives in Germany. He is an athlete and has been featured in Runner's World magazine. The internal strength and fortitude of this man is impressive. You will be amazed by his remarkable story...
Special thanks and gratitude to you my friend. Director Nick Markart and I are thrilled to have your participation in this movie!
MEET BRANDON PERKINS
A man of faith, sarcoidosis warrior, and participant in the StoneHeart Documentary Expansion Project. He lost his mom to cardiac sarcoidosis when she was only 43.
His testimony and endurance in battle is inspiring!
God bless you Brandon! Director Nick Markart and I are grateful for your participation in this film to promote awareness for sarcoidosis and organ donation.
INTRODUCING LIZ DEVIVO...
... A true survivor and participant in the StoneHeart Documentary Expansion Project.
Nearly 20 years ago, Liz survived a double lung and heart transplant. Her charming personality and beautiful story about the simple things of life will be featured in our emerging documentary to promote awareness for organ donation!
Director Nick Markart and I are pleased to have the opportunity to share her story with you when this documentary is released in 2023.
MEET THE ALLGEIER FAMILY!
Participants in The StoneHeart Documentary Expansion Project: Jonah, Lindsey, Isaiah, and Adam (left to right). Lindsay was diagnosed with a terminal cardiomyopathy at 14 and had a heart transplant at 17.
Determined to be a mom and against all odds, Lindsey and Adam have two adorable boys, perfectly healthy. Despite strong immunosuppressant medication and risks to her heart, her faith and belief in motherhood were rewarded with two amazing children!
Her donor was a beautiful teenager named Samantha. Lindsey's donor father and natural father escorted her down the aisle to marry Adam. Such an amazing testimony of faith and kind-heartedness. The power of a second chance!
Lindsey, director Nick Markart and I are thrilled to have you and your remarkable family as participants in this film!
MEET MARKEE JONES
StoneHeart Documentary Participant...
Markee demonstrates powerful faith as he describes his battle with cardiac sarcoidosis leading to heart transplant.
Markee's life was saved ironically due to a car accident and the brilliant doctors of URMC in Rochester New York. He has an amazing story of resiliency!
Director Nick Markart and I are thrilled to have his involvement in this emerging international documentary.
MEET TOMMY BARBARA
Participant in The StoneHeart Documentary.
Tommy had cardiac sarcoidosis and lived 524 days on an artificial heart before receiving his transplant! Another URMC success story...
We will let Tommy explain in the documentary how he dropped his heart in his sink while doing the dishes, died, and then came back to tell about it...
Funny and very likable... Excited for you to see him in the film in 2023.
MEET JONAH ALLGEIER
5 year old miracle boy, participant in the StoneHeart Documentary Expansion Project.
Director Nick Markart and I are so impressed by the Allgeier family. His mom Lindsey Kay Allgeier and dad Adam Allgeier had incredible faith and courage to pursue childbirth after Lindsey's heart transplant. She demonstrated to numerous dissenting doctors that she knew she could do it and she did, not once, but twice!
We interviewed Jonah in August. He impressed us with his strength!
All her life Lindsey was told that her restricted cardiomyopathy was not genetic. She recently learned Jonah now has it and may need a heart transplant.
This message needs to be shared with the world because it seems quite obvious that it is genetic. That's why we do what we do...
So on December 12th we interviewed him again in Erie and were even more impressed with his bravery and courage as he says that he is ready to help other little boys and girls overcome this disease.
If he needs a heart transplant, he has the best parents in the world to help him through it and I'm absolutely certain he will be a powerful advocate to help other kids face health challenges with courage.
