Surgeons at Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone have successfully performed the first two pediatric liver transplants at the hospital. The surgeries were carried out within a week of each other and provided hope and improved quality of life for two young girls from New Jersey. The Pediatric Liver Disease and Transplant Program was formed in April to address the rising incidence of liver disease in children and the need for quality care. Led by experienced medical professionals, the program aims to expand its ability to care for children with liver disease.
The first liver transplant recipient, 12-year-old Naihomi Vargas, had been diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis, a rare and serious chronic condition, when she was in the Dominican Republic. Her condition eventually progressed to cirrhosis, leading her family to relocate to New Jersey to ensure she received the necessary care. The second recipient, 11-year-old Joscelyn DeJesus, had primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), a rare chronic liver disease that causes inflammation and scarring of the bile ducts. Both girls received successful liver transplants, and they are now recovering well and looking forward to better health.
The establishment of the Pediatric Liver Disease and Transplant Program aims to improve the lives of children with liver disease. The program plans to build upon the success of the adult liver transplant program at NYU Langone and become the premier liver transplant program in the Northeast. These two successful pediatric liver transplants highlight the expertise and capabilities of the program and provide a lifeline to children in need of liver transplants.
