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 their words. Pete: The diagnosis I learned I had liver disease about six years before …
Happily ever after: Couple ties the knot after lifesaving liver transplant Read More »
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 decided to go to the doctor. Lorenzo soon discovered he had idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis …
After lung transplant, Lorenzo cherishes every breath Read More »
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 two are closer than ever. This is their story of hope, healing and never giving …
“Liver buddies” for life: Niece saves her aunt’s life through organ donation Read More »
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 transplant team has an unwavering focus on giving hope to people living with heart …
Saving hearts and lives: A behind-the-scenes look at the heart transplant process Read More »
More than 100,000 people in the US are waiting for a lifesaving transplant. One person is added to the national waiting list every nine minutes. Despite the need, there remain a lot of misconceptions about the process of donating organs. We turned to Cinda Courtney, an abdominal transplant nurse manager, to debunk some myths about …
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 possible to keep this liver healthy and happy so I can spend as much time …
Can transplant recipients be “weaned” off anti-rejection drugs? Read More »
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 the big Dallas hospital. This summer, Jose got a firsthand look at what happens behind …
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 Morrow are a remarkable couple with a deep resolve to help others and now a …
A dynamic donor duo: Husband and wife both donate kidneys to strangers Read More »
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 Baylor University Medical Center worked for a while, too. But the chronic pancreatitis pain …
After years of chronic pain, islet autotransplantation changed this man’s life Read More »
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 looking forward to life without pain. Searching for answers to chronic pain For years, Randy’s …
Islet cell transplant frees teen from life of chronic pain Read More »