The big picture: Utah families met face-to-face for the first time after being connected through the state’s first pediatric paired liver exchange – a rare procedure that saved two children’s lives.
Why it matters: When the Tibbs and Kauffman families couldn’t find matching donors among their relatives and friends, Justin Tibbs and the Kauffman’s next door neighbor, Annie Larrabee, stepped forward to help strangers, enabling a lifesaving exchange that doctors say rarely happens nationwide.
“As far as we know, this is the first paired exchange that has occurred in Utah. This is not something that occurs with frequency throughout the country,” noted Jean Botha, M.D., Medical Director of Intermountain Health’s Abdominal Transplant Program and Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital’s Pediatric Transplant Program.
Through the exchange, a portion of Justin’s liver went to Annie’s neighbor, 16-year-old Marissa, and a portion of Annie’s went to Justin’s daughter, 9-month-old Elie.
By the numbers:
- 15 children receive liver transplants at Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital yearly
- 90%+ of these transplant recipients are doing well 10 years later – among the highest long-term success rates nationally
- 2 full days of complex surgeries were needed to complete both transplants
Behind the scenes: The medical team performed back-to-back ten-hour surgeries over two days. The surgeries gave Marissa and Elie new livers. Despite the grueling schedule, families described the surgical team as remarkably positive throughout the process.
“We saw them at the end of two full day surgeries… and you would have thought they’d just come from a party. They were so happy. And you could just tell they love what they do and they are just amazing,” said Marissa’s mom, Tara Kauffman.
What they’re saying:
“When I saw they were looking for someone and I read over the requirements and I literally met every single one on the list, and a thought immediately came to me like, I need to do this,” said Annie. “I feel so blessed to have been able to be a part of this. I mean, a lot of people don’t even get an opportunity like this in their lifetime. And, I know that it’s something that’s changed my life forever.”
The bottom line: This groundbreaking paired exchange not only saved two children but also created lasting bonds between previously unconnected families – demonstrating the extraordinary impact of organ donation.
For more information about organ donation or Primary Children’s transplant programs, visit https://intermountainhealthcare.org/childrens-health/transplant