Transplant Episodes

Matison Deaton is a remarkable woman, with perseverance that most cannot even imagine. She was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when she was 1 1/2 years old, so her life was filled with lots of doctors’ appointments and all kinds of things that kids just shouldn’t have to experience. She knew from a young age that she may one day need a lung transplant. Her doctors didn’t tell her she had kidney disease – she found out from her “after-visit summary” and later learned she would need both a double lung and a kidney transplant. Mattie also found out from her notes that she was estimated to have 5-7 years left to live. It was 6 years into this span that she finally found a transplant center willing to take a risk, the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF). This was only after being rejected 13 times from other centers, due to being thought to be “too high risk” because she had a multi-drug-resistant lung infection. Mattie says that it was almost “out of spite” that she kept tryin…

Nic grew up around airplanes his entire childhood - his parents started a charter company right after he was born. He has always wanted to learn to fly, but he was diagnosed with a rare heart condition that required open heart surgery at the age of 15. This meant he was unable to get a pilot medical certificate, so he pursued a sports pilot's license to fly for fun. He became a nurse practitioner and has been working in an ER in rural Iowa for the last 5 years. After years of good health and lot...

Mariela started dancing when she was 12 years old in Ecuador. She trained in the conservatory and then moved to New York City to attend the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance. For her, dancing is like breathing, is part of her culture, and is a way of meditation. In 2014, she ended up in the hospital with liver problems, but no one really knew what was going on. Mariela and her family thought it might be related to her emotions and sadness, “something from the soul.” After years of myst...

Mike is a business owner, tattoo artist, and marathoner. He ran the Boston Marathon just 32 days after donating his kidney to a stranger. The same strength and determination that led Mike to pursue sobriety more than ten years ago led him to not even think twice when he learned his friend and running buddy needed a kidney. He donated a kidney anonymously at University of Colorado Hospital ‬ to receive a voucher from the National Kidney Foundation which moved his friend to the top of the waitlist...

Casana Fink is an author, entrepreneur, Miss America Contestant, and organ donation advocate. Casana knows she wants to be a living donor at some point but isn't sure on the right timing. In this episode of Transplant Talks, co-hosts Anastasia Henry and Rachel Davis, MD, talk through this decision with Casana Fink. They discuss the differences between living kidney versus liver donation and explore various concerns and considerations.

Miss Tampa, Casana Fink, is an author, entrepreneur, Miss America contestant, and organ donation advocate. After her father received an organ transplant in 2013, she has devoted herself to championing this cause. Anastasia Henry, Executive Director of the American Transplant Foundation joins psychiatrist and living liver donor, Rachel Davis, MD, to talk with Casana about her own experiences, her advocacy work, and some fun beauty tips!

Lydia donated more than half of her liver to her childhood friend, Molly, just a few months ago. They are both incredible people, and their story is one of perseverance, strength, and the strongest kind of friendship. Due to their religious beliefs, they did not want to receive blood products, and they had the utmost confidence in their surgeon, Dr. Abhi Humar, and his team at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.