USA: In Salt Lake City, Utah, a pioneering pediatric paired liver transplant exchange has linked two families and saved two young lives. Seven-month-old Ellie Tibs faced a rare liver disorder that required a transplant, and her father Justin stepped forward as a living donor. Surgeons found the portion of his liver was too large for Ellie’s tiny body, setting the stage for a bold medical solution that would reshape both families’ futures.
At the same time, 15-year-old Marissa was battling a different rare liver disease and awaiting a transplant. When no match could be found within her family, her neighbor Annie volunteered to donate. Her liver segment proved too small for the infant recipient, so the medical team engineered a paired exchange: Justin would donate to Marissa, and Annie would donate to Ellie. The complex liver transplant surgeries were performed in July by the hospital’s transplant team.
Today those donors, recipients and families met face to face for the first time, a charged and emotional encounter that sealed their bond. Both girls are reported to be recovering well: Marissa is returning to soccer and Ellie is thriving and adored by her parents. The parents described awe and gratitude at seeing parts of themselves living on in another child, and all praised the doctors and donors whose coordinated efforts made the transplants possible.
The families said they plan to stay connected and may mark future anniversaries of the lifesaving operations together in Salt Lake City. The paired living-donor liver transplantation not only restored health to two children but also forged a new, lasting family network around shared generosity and medical ingenuity.
They said they may celebrate their liversaries together in Salt Lake City, honoring donors and surgeons whose extraordinary teamwork turned two potential tragedies into successes that inspire gratitude across Utah.
