A Hoboken firefighter who was once told he might have only months to live is back in uniform. Nico Ratto, a 12-year veteran of the Hoboken Fire Department, has returned to work after receiving a donor heart following a diagnosis of GCN, an extremely rare and aggressive heart ailment, in January 2026.
Ratto was told his life expectancy could be as short as three to five months without a matching heart for transplant, he told TAPinto Hoboken. The diagnosis came as his family was growing, and he nearly missed the birth of his daughter, Giuliana, now four months old, during his illness. His son Antonio also celebrated his first birthday while Ratto was hospitalized, moments the firefighter could not be fully present for as his condition worsened.
CBS News New York also reported that the Hoboken firefighter received a heart transplant after a rare diagnosis. Ratto’s return to the firehouse was marked by a gathering attended by fellow firefighters, family members, Mayor Emily Jabbour and Public Safety Director Ken Ferrante, according to TAPinto Hoboken.
A Department Rallies Around One of Its Own
TAPinto Hoboken reported that Ratto said, “It feels good to be back in uniform.” His wife, Maria Ratto, told the outlet that firefighters and their spouses supported the family during his recovery through visits, messages and other well wishes. She described the department as a second family to her husband and said the job means everything to him.
TAPinto Hoboken also reported that Brian Crimmins described Ratto’s return as a “big deal.” Ferrante called it the “good news story of 2026,” while Mayor Jabbour said the city had rallied around Ratto and his family.
Easing Back In, Not Full Duty Yet
Ratto is not returning immediately to full duty. TAPinto Hoboken reported that he will work in fire prevention and on the department’s operational side while continuing his recovery, and that he hopes to help bring additional wellness training to firefighters. The return gathering included heart-healthy foods, including dishes associated with a Mediterranean diet.
What the national data can—and can’t—show
The U.S. Fire Administration says cardiac-event risk is 10 to 100 times higher during fire suppression than during non-emergency duties. That general occupational-risk comparison is not an individual medical clearance standard and does not assess Ratto’s fitness for duty.
Ratto’s return follows a year that began with a life-threatening diagnosis and a search for a donor heart. The account of his return was written by Steve Lenox for TAPinto Hoboken.
