Renown Health Performs First Living Donor Kidney Transplant, Offering New Hope to Patients
Reno, Nev. – Renown Health, home to one of the 250 transplant centers nationwide, has achieved a significant milestone with the successful completion of it’s first living donor kidney transplant. The procedure, performed at the Renown Transplant Institute, marks a new era of hope for patients in Nevada and beyond battling end-stage kidney disease.
The deeply personal transplant involved melania Davis, who generously donated a kidney to her daughter, Lanie Hope Smith, who was suffering from kidney failure caused by a severe E. coli infection.living donor transplants, frequently performed between family members, offer significant benefits compared to those from deceased donors – including reduced wait times, improved long-term organ function, and better overall patient outcomes.
“This first living donor transplant is a pivotal moment for our program,” stated Ernesto Molmeti,M.D.,executive director of the Renown Transplant Institute and Nevada Transplant Institute and Chief of Transplantation at Renown Health. “It allows us to provide faster access to life-saving care and build a strong foundation for future success. This achievement is a testament to the dedication and collaborative spirit of our entire team - from surgery and nursing to anesthesia, social work, pharmacy, and transplant coordination.”
Renown Health is currently accepting referrals for kidney transplants and is actively pursuing certification from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.Certification will enable the hospital to broaden access to transplantation by accepting a wider range of insurance plans, extending the gift of life to even more individuals in need.
