Vanderbilt University Medical Center, an established leader in transplantation in the United States, recently performed its 3,000th liver transplant.
While the surgery was a milestone for the hospital, for the pediatric patient and her family, it represented an answer to many prayers.
“I am so grateful to the hospital because they did everything possible for my daughter,” said Maria Solorzano through an interpreter. “Because of the stage of her disease, she was very critical. I never thought we would go through anything like this. She never showed that her body was so sick.”
Jimena Lopez, 13, of Atlanta, received the milestone liver transplant on July 17. A few weeks prior she was diagnosed with Wilson’s disease, a rare inherited disorder that causes too much copper to accumulate in the body. Affecting 1 in 30,000 people in the U.S., the disorder typically causes weakness, abdominal pain, jaundice, poorly coordinated movements and swelling.
“We didn’t know that she had Wilson’s disease,” said Solorzano. “When she started feeling bloated, stopped eating, started losing weight, her ankles started to swell, and I noticed that her eyes were turning yellow, I took her to the hospital.
“I learned that patients with advanced disease like hers present with lots of pain. She never once complained or had all the symptoms. It was sudden.”
Jimena was transferred to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, a leading provider of pediatric organ transplants in the country.
“We love celebrating positive milestones, but in transplantation I think we all feel that each of our patients who has received this gift of life is special,” said Joseph Magliocca, MD, professor of Surgery, director of the Vanderbilt Transplant Center and surgical director of the Pediatric Liver Transplant Program. “It is humbling to acknowledge so many patients and families whose lives have been improved through the gift of organ transplantation and is something that makes our transplant teams very proud.”
Now the eighth grader is excited to get back to her regular routines — playing the viola in the orchestra at school and being a center back on the soccer team. She is also nearing the completion of her confirmation studies for church.
“I have been given another chance,” Jimena said softly. “My body can recover and get better. I am looking forward to getting home, playing soccer and getting back to school. I miss my family and my little brother too.
“After my transplant, I can tell things are much better. I am very grateful.”
The pediatric liver transplant program began in 1991. In fiscal year 2024 the program performed 26 liver transplants. In 2023 the pediatric team transplanted its 100th liver, and the first living donor liver transplant was done in 2024.
The pediatric program, ranked No. 8 for 2024, is committed to improving the health of children with liver disease.
“Our goal is to meet the needs of children, especially those with complex medical needs, by providing them the best chance of a normal life through transplantation,” said Saeed Mohammad, MD, MS, associate professor of Pediatrics and director of the Pediatric Solid Organ Transplant Center and Liver Transplantation at Monroe Carell. “We are a growing program and experiencing increased patient volumes.”
VUMC has long been committed to improving the health of all persons with liver disease with a program that offers advanced care for patients with rare tumors and congenital abnormalities of the liver as well.
“The increase in the number of families we have been able to help is consistent with this aim,” added Magliocca. “Our goal is to provide the highest quality liver transplant care and to be the institution that people seek out for transplant-related treatment.”
