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- Heart & Kidney
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- Kidney & Pancreas
- Liver
Heart
Heart Transplant Recipient Gives Back to Those That Saved His Life
Following a massive heart attack, Michigan construction worker Larry Bybee received a heart transplant on his 50th birthday. In 2009, he served as grand marshal for the Medical Center's team at the downtown Chicago American Heart Association Heart Walk.
Heart Transplant Reunion: A Time to Celebrate a Second Chance at Life
Two years after Larry Matthews had a heart transplant, he realized his dream of becoming a firefighter. Matthews, as well as many other transplant recipients, their families, transplant physicians and staff celebrated the gift of organ donation at the annual heart transplant reunion. Also in attendance were people awaiting transplant surgery.
Heart & Kidney
Heart and Kidney Transplant: Kenneth's Story
After being turned down for transplant by six different hospitals, Kenneth Woodka looked to the University of Chicago Medical Center for help. Soon after he arrived, Kenneth had a successful heart-kidney transplant. Video included.
Heart-Kidney-Liver
Michael: Triple Transplant Recipient Is Going Strong Six Years After Surgery
Years after receiving a rare heart-kidney-liver transplant, Michael Gaynor is active and feels more energetic than he did at half his age. Here he shares his experiences and his commitment to helping people cope with life before and after transplant.
Kidney
Carmen's Pre-Transplant Experience
Carmen is a recipient of a deceased donor kidney. This is her account of what she went through while waiting for her transplant.
Mark: A Living Organ Recipient's Account of the Pre-Transplant Experience
Mark kept a journal from the time he learned he had kidney failure until the time his transplant surgery was scheduled. Mark's brother, Jeff, donated a kidney to him.
Kidney Donation
Jeff: A Living Donor's Experience
Jeff describes what he went through when donating a kidney to his brother, Mark.
Kidney & Liver
Virginia's Kidney and Liver Transplant Experience
Virginia suffered kidney and liver failure as a result of polycystic kidney disease. This genetic disease causes numerous cysts to grown in the kidney. Other organs, including the liver, can also be affected.
Kidney & Pancreas
Debbie's Post-Transplant Experience
Debbie has received two kidney transplants and three pancreas transplants. Here she shares her post-transplant experiences.
Sam's Transplant Surgery Experience
Sam, a kidney-pancreas recipient, shares his surgery and hospital experience.
Liver
A Medical First, 20 Years Later
In 1989, Alyssa Smith received a portion of her mother's liver in the world's first successful living-donor liver transplant. Catch up with Alyssa and her mother and donor, Teri Smith, as well as members of the surgical team that performed this groundbreaking procedure. Learn about how plans to perform this life-saving procedure were set in motion, and how this experience changed the Smith family, the Medical Center, and transplant science.
Couple Share a Liver and a Vein
When Theresa Gonsiorowski needed a new liver due to her primary sclerosing cholangitis, her husband, Ron Gonsiorowski, bravely volunteered. But it turned out that Theresa would also be sharing a bit of herself with Ron during the living-donor liver transplant--a portion of her portal vein.
Sung's Liver Transplant Experience
Sung had very few options to treat the large, cancerous tumors growing in his liver. A liver transplant from a "marginal donor" saved his life. One full year after his transplant, Sung is feeling great.
Woman Donates Part of Liver to Co-Worker's Daughter
Catherine Ortiz donated part of her liver to Raquel Allen, the 11-month-old daughter of a co-worker. Baby Raquel's surgery went well, and she celebrated her first birthday at Comer Children's Hospital. The Medical Center's blog, Science Life, followed Raquel's journey before, during and after transplant in a three-part series that features video interviews with Ortiz, Raquel's parents, and Medical Center surgeons. Video included.
Patricia's Post-Transplant Experience
Patricia waited 3 ½ years for a deceased donor liver after being diagnosed with advanced autoimmune hepatitis. Patricia shares some of what she went through during the post-transplant period.
Family Travels More Thank 7,000 Miles for Father-to-Son Liver Transplant
Two-year-old Humaid Alsayegh needed a liver transplant to overcome cholestatic liver disease, a condition that blocked the flow of bile in his liver and stunted his growth. His father, Omran, was a good match for donation, but only after he shed 100 lbs. In a few short months, Omran reached his weight-loss goal and the family traveled to Chicago from the United Arab Emirates for the life-saving procedure.
William's Pre-Transplant Experience
William is a recipient of a deceased donor liver. Here, William describes what he went through while waiting for his transplant.
