Health Topics / Transplant

After passing her nurse practitioner boards with high marks and welcoming her second child to the world in June of 2020, Katie Blalock had a lot to celebrate. But just a month later, she woke up confused in a hospital...

When your kidneys are no longer working effectively, waste products and fluid build up in the blood. When kidneys fail—often because of diabetes, high blood pressure or hereditary conditions—the damage can spread to other parts of the body. If you’re...

For many people, waiting on a liver transplant can take years on the current wait list. The traditional organ donor model of waiting on a deceased donor’s organ to match the recipient has created significant wait times for those in...

Nearly 104,000 Americans are waiting for a life-saving organ, but fewer than 43,000 transplants occurred last year in the United States. “As you can see, there are a lot of people waiting, but not a lot of donors,” said Cinda...

David Hutchison has been a Blue Bell delivery driver for over two decades. He’s in his early 40s, and his son and wife work in the ice cream business, too. While he often enjoyed having some drinks after work or...

That Kevin Lopez is able to share the amazing story of his heart is a medical miracle. A retired police officer, former EMT and fireman, and US Air Force veteran, he was only 36 when he had his first heart...

When Carol Jaster needed a liver transplant due to her autoimmune condition, both of her adult children stepped up to help—including offering to be a donor. While both her son and daughter have busy careers and families, giving their mom...

When Brandi and Pete fell in love, he was healthy—but liver disease was slowly taking its toll. Brandi knew in her heart it was her destiny to save his life by donating her liver. This is their love story, in...

Lorenzo had always been healthy, so when he suddenly started having trouble breathing, he knew something was wrong. One day while playing volleyball, he began coughing and just couldn’t stop. For 45 minutes, he could not catch his breath.Concerned, he...

As aunt and niece, Demaris and Brittney have always had a special bond. For them, family is everything. So, when Brittney found out that Demaris needed a new liver, she didn’t hesitate to offer hers. Now self-described “liver buddies,” the...

When the transplant team at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas gets the call about a possible donor heart, many processes and people start moving—quickly. And if multiple calls happen back-to-back, that’s where the team really springs into action.The heart...

Have you considered becoming an organ donor? More than 100,000 people in the US are waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant. One person is added to the national waiting list every nine minutes. Despite the need, there remain a lot...

When I received my liver transplant in 2004, I knew that in order to protect this incredible gift of life, I would stay on anti-rejection medication for the rest of my life. “Sure thing,” I thought. “I will do everything...

When Jose Suarez moved to Dallas in the mid-80’s, he worked as a high-rise window washer. He remembers washing the windows at Baylor University Medical Center, part of Baylor Scott & White Health, and wondering what it was like inside...

Becoming a living organ donor for a friend or relative is an unparalleled act of kindness. And donors who decide to give the gift of life to a perfect stranger? They fall into an entirely different category. Katie and Chris...

Chronic pancreatitis can lead to debilitating, life-limiting pain. That pain routinely stopped David Wright in his tracks. “I would literally double over and couldn’t move,” he said.Medication would sometimes reduce the attacks. Pain blocks administered by an advanced endoscopist at...

13-year-old Randy Lopez is no stranger to pain. Ever since he was a toddler, Randy has battled the pain of a genetic disease called chronic pancreatitis — until now. Thanks to a total pancreatectomy with islet cell transplantation, Randy is...

As a successful practicing attorney, father of two young children and supportive husband, Joel Elliott is quite accustomed to the on-the-go lifestyle. So much so that his wife Cristy explains, “He is the gas, I am the brake.” With 18...

For Eric Daniell, everything has come full circle. He spent more than a decade ministering to others as a hospital chaplain. At the Dallas VA Medical Center, he found his calling lending a hand to veterans returning from the battlefield....

Usually it’s the son who looks up to his dad as his hero but for me, my son is my hero. His selfless decision to donate his liver saved my life.I was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver in September...