Transplant Surgery News Archive Featured in the Media JeffNEWS

Mother Who Donated Kidney to Daughter Honored at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital Ceremony Megan Miller, right, and her mom Sandra Miller, third from left, seen with Transplant Social Worker Cheryl Boyd, left, and Transplant Coordinator Karen Thompson, second from left, were honored recently at the annual Thomas Jefferson University Hospital Living Donor Appreciation Ceremony. Mrs. Miller was recognized for donating a kidney to her daughter, Megan, who published a book of poetry chronicling her illness and recovery. Jefferson Hospital’s Living Donor Appreciation Ceremony is an event dedicated to raising awareness for the 4,000 people in need of organs in the region.

DATE: Thursday, April 29, 2004

TIME: 6:30-8:30 p.m.

PLACE: Jefferson Alumni Hall, 1020 Locust St., 1st Floor, Philadelphia

EVENT: More than 100 living organ donors and their families will on hand to recognize these courageous donors at the annual Thomas Jefferson University Hospital Living Donor Appreciation Ceremony. The event, being held in conjunction with National Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Week, helps to raise awareness of the nearly 4,000 people awaiting transplants in this region.

SPEAKERS:

• Lloyd Ratner, M.D., Director, Division of Transplantation
  Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
• James Burke, M.D.
  Director, Division of Nephrology
  Medical Director, Kidney Transplant Program
  Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
• Howard Nathans
  President, Gift of Life donor program

BACKGROUND: In 2003, the number of people who died waiting for organ transplants declined by 10.5 percent due to an increase in organ donations, according to preliminary statistics from the United Network for Organ Sharing. The number of living organ donors nationwide in 2003 increased by nine percent to 6,815 over 2002, UNOS reported. In this region, the number of living donors also rose by nine percent to 937 over 2002.

Jefferson's extensive and longstanding kidney transplant program is staffed by experienced nephrologists and surgeons. These specialists work in close coordination to provide the best team-care possible and to match the right recipient with an available donor organ. Long-term follow-up also contributes to the program's high success rate.

Other team members include transplant coordinators, social workers and other physician specialists. Patients benefit from the program's team approach by having access to varied expertise that assists their course from the time of evaluation to post-operative recovery. Continued follow-up care is provided through clinic visits and monitored laboratory studies.

The transplant team encourages living donation for suitable donors and recipients. Donors may be related (brother, sister, parent, child, etc.) or unrelated (spouse, friend, in-law, etc.)