MTI One-Year Post-Transplant Anniversary Party

In honor of Donate Life Month and the amazing miracles made possible by our physicians, staff, and patients, the Miami Transplant Institute (MTI) hosted a one-year post-transplant party on April 8, 2016. The emotional event celebrated a major milestone for MTI patients – the first anniversary of their gift of life.

Both patients and physicians were invited to rejoice and reflect on the hard work and efforts of all parties involved. Patients were able to reconnect with the MTI team and honor the donors that made having a second chance at life possible. The celebration included refreshments, a buffet meal, and even had patients write encouraging notes for future transplant recipients.

Guest speakers from all aspects of the transplant process also shared their stories and noted how organ transplantation impacted their lives. Rodrigo Vianna, MD, PhD, who is the director of MTI and chief of liver, intestinal and multivisceral transplant, welcomed everyone and spoke on behalf of the entire MTI program, thanking the team and the patients for allowing these miracles to be made in the first place.

Bonnie and Craig Glover, who participated in a historic four-way paired kidney exchange last April, talked about their experience with MTI’s unique Paired Kidney Exchange Program – the only initiative of its kind in the region. The procedure, which was the first one performed in Florida, involved four people that were matched to each donate a kidney to four strangers, all so their loved ones could receive the gift of life. To hear more about their story, watch this incredible video.

Myriam Correa Sherman, and her husband, Ronald, also shared their gratitude for the Miami Transplant Institute. Myriam was the first Hispanic woman to receive a heart transplant at Jackson Memorial Hospital 25 years ago and not a day goes by that she doesn’t thank her donor for her second chance at life.

Christine Ferrante spoke about how transplantation turned a tragedy into a lifesaving miracle. Christine lost her daughter, Kaitlyn, 21, in a high-profile wrong-way crash in Broward County back in November 2013. Although devastated by their own loss, the Ferrante family made the decision to donate Kaitlyn’s organs in order to save someone else’s life. Christine recently met the recipient of her daughter’s heart, which was transplanted by MTI at Jackson Memorial Hospital, and also met the physician who performed the surgery for the first time at the event.

Over 150 attendees were at the event, celebrating the gift of life, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

To learn more about the Miami Transplant Institute, visit MiamiTransplant.org or call 305-355-5000.