SAN ANTONIO – In a groundbreaking achievement, fourteen individuals at University Health made history this year by participating in a revolutionary surgical procedure that saved seven lives. This landmark event marked the completion of the nation’s first seven-pair living donor liver transplant exchange, highlighting the incredible potential of living organ donation.
The success of this unprecedented operation was made possible through the selflessness of volunteers who donated portions of their livers to individuals they had never met before. Tana Lusty, one of the donors, expressed her heartfelt gratitude, stating, “This opportunity just absolutely means everything to me. I think forever we’re going to be connected. And I just feel absolutely blessed and incredibly grateful.”
The emotional reunion of the seven donors and seven recipients took place on a recent Friday, where they shared their stories and expressed their deep appreciation for one another. Norma Cardenas, one of the transplant recipients, remarked on the emotional weight of the occasion, saying, “It’s hard not to be emotional, you know.”
Among the donors was Robert McDonald, who had initially intended to donate to a friend. Despite the change in plans, he chose to proceed with the donation, emphasizing the ease of his decision. “I always check the box that says organ donor on your driver’s license, but I never really thought of this before until I found out that somebody that I cared about needed this,” he shared.
Dr. Tarunjeet Klair, the surgical director for the liver transplant program at University Health Transplant Institute, praised both the donors and recipients for their courage and trust. “Thank you so much for the donors, for your courage, your generosity, the recipients who constantly put, you know, trust us in our abilities to take care of you,” Dr. Klair stated. “This achievement showcases the power of living donation and the advanced coordination and surgical skill required for these transplants.”
For Cardenas, the transplant represented a critical turning point after months of uncertainty regarding her health. Reflecting on her journey, she said, “I started this in November 2024. I didn’t know if Thanksgiving was going to be my last,” she recalled. However, with the successful transplant, she was able to return home and enjoy moments with her grandchildren, a cherished experience she described as “very special.”
The logistical and medical complexities surrounding this operation were significant, requiring the precise matching of seven remarkable living donors with seven patients in dire need of life-saving transplants. University Health officials noted, “Waiting for a deceased organ might have taken too long to help some of these patients.” This innovative procedure not only saved lives but also underscored the importance of living donations and the collaborative spirit inherent in such endeavors.
