January 25, 2010
Story by Pam White
Adrianna Martinez was born without a small intestines and couldn't digest food. The only way she could survive was to be fed intravenously almost 24 hours a day. However, this wasn't a long term solution because this type of feeding takes its toll on the liver, and the liver will eventually fail.
Last November, in a first of its kind surgery, doctors at University of Medical Center performed a three-organ transplant. In a seven hour surgery, doctors transplanted a liver, small bowel and pancreas from a dead baby donor to the 1-year-old Gilbert, Arizona girl.
Adrianna's mother, Tasha Bowman says her daughter is, "definitely happier after the surgery." The family spent several weeks at the Tucson Ronald McDonald House, a facility that offers a home away from home for families of seriously ill children, while Adrianna recovered. Now back home, Tasha says her daughter, "is not limited to what she can do."
Dr. Rainer Gruessner, chief of transplantation at UMC, headed the surgery. Doctors say without the operation, Adrianna most likely would not have survived.
Dr. Khalid Khan an associate professor of surgery at UMC specializing in intestine transplants says, "I'm elated that Adrianna is doing so well and she should now be able to lead a completely normal life." He also said, "compared to a kidney transplant, this type of transplant is fairly new in medicine so the long term outcome is unknown, but so far things look good for Adrianna."
Tasha credits her daughter's "feisty" personality for her rapid recovery.
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