Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health has established a partnership with Philadelphia to allow patients in the Susquehanna Valley to undergo transplant evaluations locally before proceeding to a transplant operation at Penn Medicine in Philadelphia. One such success story is Mallory, a kidney transplant recipient who was able to have a baby thanks to her aunt’s kidney donation. Both Mallory and her aunt Dawn are doing well, and their story highlights the importance of organ donation and the life-changing impact of transplant operations. With Penn State Hershey’s liver and kidney transplant programs closed, Penn Medicine in Philadelphia performed over 530 transplants last year, emphasizing the crucial need for donors.
Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health has established a partnership with Philadelphia, allowing patients in the Susquehanna Valley to undergo examinations locally before receiving transplant operations at Penn Medicine in Philadelphia. Mallory, a kidney transplant recipient, was able to have a baby, Lyla, thanks to the transplant program. Her aunt Dawn selflessly donated her kidney, making the pregnancy possible for Mallory, who had struggled with kidney disease since childhood.
Mallory and her husband Bo, who had resigned themselves to a different path to parenthood, found hope through the transplant program. Dr. Matthew Levine performed the successful operation at Penn Medicine in Philadelphia, where both Mallory and her aunt are now recovering well. The emotional journey and the successful outcome highlight the critical role of organ donation and transplant programs, especially in cases where patients like Mallory desire to expand their families despite medical challenges.
With the closure of liver and kidney transplant programs at Penn State Hershey, the focus has shifted to institutions like Penn Medicine in Philadelphia, where over 530 transplant operations were carried out last year. The dedicated efforts of medical professionals, organ donors, and transplant recipients like Mallory and her aunt Dawn underscore the significant impact of transplant programs on the lives of patients, showcasing the transformative power of organ donation in creating new beginnings and miraculous outcomes.