Success Stories

Pediatric Transplant Patient Success Stories

Liver Transplant for Hepatoblastoma
Montana Sertz came to Pittsburgh looking for treatment and a new liver after suffering from puzzling symptoms. The right combination of cancer experts at Children’s with chemotherapy and patience helped Montana succeed.

Bone Marrow Transplant
Cassidy Yeager was a healthy, 19-year-old competitive runner when she was diagnosed with a type of bone cancer. Despite her age, she was treated at Children’s, where the cancer care team came up with a comprehensive treatment plan to keep Cassidy on track to live a successful, healthy life.

New Medicine and Bone Marrow Transplant for Neuroblastoma
Casey Neff was diagnosed with neuroblastoma shortly before her first birthday. A new treatment and resources at Children’s Hospital helped Casey and her family get through her illness successfully.

Mini Transplant, Big Success
After going to the hospital with flu-like symptoms, 13-year-old Cara Feldman was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia after doctors noticed that 75 percent of her bone marrow had been destroyed. Learn how an experimental mini bone marrow transplant saved her life.

Sister Gives Second Chance
Emily Celedonia now lives the joys and struggles of your average teen, but when she was six years old, she fought for her life against acute myeloid leukemia. But bone marrow donated from her 4-year-old sister gave her a second chance.

Biliary Artresia and Living-Donor Transplant
For Carleigh Plotts, a living-organ donation from her mother Christine, gave her the shot at life she so desperately needed.

Living Donor Liver Transplant for Biliary Atresia
On January 28, 1997, Lynn Thomas and his 18-month-old son, Haden, made Pittsburgh history. Haden received a portion of his father’s liver during the area’s first living-related pediatric liver transplant.

Liver Transplantation for Maple Syrup Urine Disease
Jakob Jasin became lethargic and dehydrated when he was 6 days old. He was diagnosed with Maple Syrup Urine Disease five days later. Learn how a liver transplant changed his life.

Liver Transplantation – A Life-Changing Role
Renee Williams was introduced to Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh when she was only 14 months old. Today, Renee is an aspiring actress who wants families of transplant patients to know that she is a healthy, active young woman who just happened to have a liver transplant.

Bone Marrow Transplant for Sickle Cell Disease
Austin Jones was diagnosed with sickle cell disease shortly after birth. His only chance for a normal life was a bone marrow transplant. Read how Austin’s oldest brother, Anthony Jr., and the doctors at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh helped to give him that precious gift.

The Berlin Heart Keeps the Beat Prior to Heart Transplant
Abbey Shanah Bridgett’s heart failed when she was only 8 years old. She may have died, doctors say, if not for an experimental, child-size artificial heart pump that kept her alive while awaiting a heart transplant.

Revolutionary Cord Blood Transplantation a Success for Leukemia Patient
Hannah Hannum was just 2-years-old when she was diagnosed with Leukemia. Her family never thought it could happen to them. After three years of treatment including a revolutionary cord blood transplantation at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Hannah is doing remarkably well.

Quality of Life Improves for Organ Transplant Recipients
Cory Scott is living proof that critically ill children who undergo organ transplants are more likely to recover and return to school.