PHILADELPHIA, PA (AP) -- After 10-year-old Sarah Murnaghan's parents spoke out against the current transplant policy, which states children under 12 must wait for pediatric lungs, they are thrilled to share the good news.
Sarah has had a successful double-lung transplant. A family spokeswoman says Sarah received the new lungs from an adult donor. The operation was performed at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
Sarah suffers from cystic fibrosis and her health was deteriorating when a judge gave her a chance at the much larger list of adult organ donors. Sarah's family said pediatric lungs are rarely donated.
During double-lung transplants, surgeons must open up the patient's chest. Complications can include infection and rejection of the new lungs.
Earlier coverage:
UPDATE: Second Child Requests to be Added to Adult Transplant List
PHILADELPHIA, PA (AP) -- One day after a judge placed a dying 10-year-old girl, Sarah Murnaghan, on an adult transplant list, a second child is asking to be added to the waiting list.
The mother of 11-year-old Javier Acosta, who also suffers from cystic fibrosis, says if her son does not get a donated set of lungs soon he will die.
Javier lives in the Bronx but is currently in the ICU at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
According to legal reports, Javier's brother was 11 when he died while waiting for a lung transplant 2 years ago.
Earlier coverage:
Mother of Suffering Child Requests Review of Transplant Policy
PHILADELPHIA, PA -- The parents of a 10-year-old girl waiting for new lungs have formally asked the U.S. government to change the transplant rules.
Sarah Murnaghan has end-stage cystic fibrosis. She has desperately been waiting 18 months for a lung transplant.
Sarah says, "No! I'm never gonna quit. Nevvvver! Never!"
But federal guidelines require children to be at least 12 before they can qualify for an adult lung.
Sarah's mother, Janet, says her daughter is being left to die.
"This isn't just about Sarah, this is about all children. Children are dying at almost three times the rate of adults waiting on that transplant list, almost three times the rate," Janet said. "They are not being treated fairly or equally. It's unjust. It's not within the Constitution. My child's civil rights are being violated."
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said she doesn't have the authority to intervene.
Sarah's mother wants a review of the lung transplant policy for children, but that could take up to two years.
Image courtesy of ABC.
Sarah has had a successful double-lung transplant. A family spokeswoman says Sarah received the new lungs from an adult donor. The operation was performed at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
Sarah suffers from cystic fibrosis and her health was deteriorating when a judge gave her a chance at the much larger list of adult organ donors. Sarah's family said pediatric lungs are rarely donated.
During double-lung transplants, surgeons must open up the patient's chest. Complications can include infection and rejection of the new lungs.
Earlier coverage:
UPDATE: Second Child Requests to be Added to Adult Transplant List
PHILADELPHIA, PA (AP) -- One day after a judge placed a dying 10-year-old girl, Sarah Murnaghan, on an adult transplant list, a second child is asking to be added to the waiting list.
The mother of 11-year-old Javier Acosta, who also suffers from cystic fibrosis, says if her son does not get a donated set of lungs soon he will die.
Javier lives in the Bronx but is currently in the ICU at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
According to legal reports, Javier's brother was 11 when he died while waiting for a lung transplant 2 years ago.
Earlier coverage:
Mother of Suffering Child Requests Review of Transplant Policy
PHILADELPHIA, PA -- The parents of a 10-year-old girl waiting for new lungs have formally asked the U.S. government to change the transplant rules.
Sarah Murnaghan has end-stage cystic fibrosis. She has desperately been waiting 18 months for a lung transplant.
Sarah says, "No! I'm never gonna quit. Nevvvver! Never!"
But federal guidelines require children to be at least 12 before they can qualify for an adult lung.
Sarah's mother, Janet, says her daughter is being left to die.
"This isn't just about Sarah, this is about all children. Children are dying at almost three times the rate of adults waiting on that transplant list, almost three times the rate," Janet said. "They are not being treated fairly or equally. It's unjust. It's not within the Constitution. My child's civil rights are being violated."
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said she doesn't have the authority to intervene.
Sarah's mother wants a review of the lung transplant policy for children, but that could take up to two years.
Image courtesy of ABC.