Everything Under The Sun: Trusting Relationship With Treatment Team Seals Deal For Kidney Transplant Patient

Lankenau Medical Center

One of the top quality hospitals acute care hospitals in the Philadelphia area (and in Pennsylvania, for that matter) is LANKENAU MEDICAL CENTER. Situated on a 93-acre campus in Wynnewood, this medical complex has been in operation since 1860, and a part of Main Line Health since 1985.

Most people don't realize that kidney transplants don't last for the life of the recipient. After a number of years, that transplant can reach the end of its usefulness and the recipient has to begin searching for another donor, who is also a close match. That happened to Albert Morina, who had had a kidney transplant from his mother in 2001. His physician had told him in April 2015 that he would need to have that kidney replaced soon, as it was nearing the end of its functionality.

Family members stepped forward and began the testing process. Mr. Morina's sister was a good match, but as he was preparing for surgery, some bad news came up. He stated, "My sister's compatibility testing came back with some issues. She was an incompatible match for me. We had gone through three months of testing and all was fine. Then we were all blindsided two weeks before surgery. It was the hardest phone conversation I can remember having. She was crushed; she wanted to do anything possible to help."

Back to the drawing board. What the family hadn't realized was that Mr. Morina's first transplant had introduced a high level of antibodies, so that would make finding a matching donor that much more difficult. Although more family members were willing to donate, the doctors at Lankenau presented the idea of a paired kidney exchange, in which someone from another part of the country would donate a kidney to him, while a family member would donate a kidney for the exchange.

Transplant coordinator Laurel Lernor, explained, "Patients who have been unable to find a living kidney donor often find more success through a paired kidney exchange program. It offers a greater database of donors, and the opportunity for our patients - and others awaiting transplants - to get a compatible match."

Mr. Morina was hesitant, especially after two of his friends were tested and found to be matches. After some hard thinking, he decided to go with the kidney exchange, which developed into a three-way, rather than four-way, exchange. His wife, Suzanne, became his kidney donor for him in the exchange.

So, finally, in May the transplant exchanges took place, and Mr. Morina has recovered well. As he said, "I feel great. This is the most energy I've had since I was diagnosed with kidney disease in 1999....[G]etting my second one has been incredible."

Albert Morina (left) with family.

In addition, he is very thankful for his transplant team, who has provided the expertise for this exchange that made him feel so much better. He said, "Laurel was my transplant coordinator when I had my first transplant at another hospital, and Dr. Francisco Badoso was my doctor. When they both came to Lankenau back in 2002, I followed them because I was so impressed with their care. The reason I stayed with them is because I had confidence and comfort knowing they were looking out for me." It is that important difference in positive relationships with the treatment team that can make that can provide that extra ingredient for someone to get back on the road of health.