Parkland celebrates 50th anniversary of Texas’ first kidney transplant
Twin-to-twin surgery performed at Parkland in 1964
Transplant patients will gather at Parkland Memorial Hospital on November 5 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first kidney transplant in North Texas. During that surgery, performed by Paul Peters, MD on Nov. 5, 1964 at Parkland, 10-year old Mary Freeman received a kidney from her identical twin, Nancy. A reception to honor donors and recipients will be held from 10 a.m. to noon, Wednesday, Nov. 5, in the MacGregor W. Day Auditorium on the first floor at Parkland, 5201 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas.
In the five decades since that first successful surgery, 2,010 kidney transplants have taken place at Parkland. Of those, there have been 414 living kidney donor transplants and 1,596 deceased donor transplants. The team has also performed 65 pancreas transplant surgeries.
“We average nearly 25 transplants a year,” said Susan Cauley, RN, Unit Manager of Parkland’s Renal Transplant/Kidney Acquisition department. “We are very proud of our program and the quality service we are able to provide our patients.”
In 2010, The National Learning Congress, a group that recognizes best practices in organ donation and transplantation, awarded Parkland one of 10 silver medals bestowed nationally for the high survival rates of its transplant patients.
Parkland’s transplant clinic follows about 700 patients, Cauley said. A third, or 240, are hoping for a transplant and the remaining 450 are in recovery after receiving one.
Denise Gillham was 53 when she received a transplant in 2009 at Parkland. Having spent two and a half years on daily peritoneal dialysis, Gillham said she has a newfound freedom since receiving the transplant.
“Since the transplant I've graduated magna cum laude from Texas A&M University Commerce, bought a kayak, I’m biking, working as a real estate agent and enjoying each day,” she said. “I can’t say enough good things about the care I received at Parkland.”
Despite contracting both tuberculosis and West Nile Virus in recent years, “life is good” for Gillham, who is one of four siblings who have either received or donated a kidney. Three of the four, she said, “received the gene” that resulted in kidney disease.
Still, Gillham said she wouldn't trade her life for any other.
“I lead a rich life and am doing things I couldn't do before my transplant,” she said. “It’s been an awesome journey.”
For more information on Parkland’s kidney transplant program, please call 214.590.5681.
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