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Chase, the Austin teen who became the first patient in
Texas to undergo a double lung-liver transplant, is progressing
well after the surgery which was performed at Texas Children's
Hospital in early 2004. Chase, who has cystic fibrosis, is one of
fewer than 20 people in the world to have the transplant.
“Chase has had an awesome year,” said his mother, Carol.
“While it has been a bit harrowing at times, he is doing as
well as anyone could expect at this point. We're thrilled to say
that he is a normal, obstinate, stinky teenager.”
After a year of post-operative treatments, one hospitalization for
stomach surgery to control gastroesophageal reflux disease and
missing two months of school, Chase was able to ring in 2005 with
friends at a church campout, a first for him and his family. Now
back in school, Chase takes a number of medications and follows a
nutritional program that provides 4,000 calories a day.
“Although
Chase has a new healthy liver and lungs, he still has the
gastrointestinal system of a cystic fibrosis patient,”
said Carol.
“He is quite underweight, and he needs increased nutritional
values to boost his system.”
Dr. George Mallory, chief of the
lung transplant program at Texas
Children's, also is optimistic about Chase's condition.
“So few
patients have had double-lung and liver transplants that it is
hard to say how well Chase is doing compared to others,”
said Mallory.
“But we are very, very pleased. His new organs are working
well, and the new liver seems to be supporting his gains from the
new lungs. He is growing and maturing like a typical teen. We're
thankful that our worst problems are trying to get him to gain
weight and listen to his parents.”
Mallory said he hopes to see Chase attend college and
live many years beyond.
“Thanks to Dr. Mallory and Dr. Saul Karpen, the Texas Children's
physicians who monitor his lungs and liver, we have tremendous
peace of mind that everything is going to turn out all right for
Chase,” said Carol.
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