Regaining Strength After Triple-Organ Transplant

Regaining Strength After Triple-Organ Transplant

A Miracle of Medical Marvels: Triple Organ Transplant Saves Man’s Life

Valance Sams Sr., a 46-year-old man from Baldwin Hills, California, believes he has experienced “a miracle.” Sams underwent a groundbreaking triple organ transplant in the spring of 2023, making him one of fewer than 50 people in the United States to ever receive three new organs through transplantation.

Sams’ journey began ten years ago when he was diagnosed with sarcoidosis, a rare inflammatory disease that causes scar tissue to build up in the body’s organs. The disease primarily affected his heart, rendering him unable to work, exercise, or even walk. Over time, the condition also damaged his liver and put stress on his kidneys.

“If the heart’s not working, it can cause something called congestive hepatopathy in the liver, where the liver starts not to work very well,” explains Dr. Irene Kim, director of Cedars Sinai’s Comprehensive Transplant Center. “That can cause chronic and permanent damage of the liver, and it can also cause stress on the kidneys.”

Sams’ medical condition continued to deteriorate, making daily life a struggle. He describes the difficulty of even reaching his car in the morning and how draining fluid from his stomach every Friday allowed him to move around a bit better. Eventually, he had to quit film school, with his teenage son, Valance Jr., taking on the responsibility of being his main caregiver.

But then came a two-month hospital stay, and miraculously, a matching heart, liver, and kidney from a single donor became available for transplantation. A team of around 15 surgeons, nurses, doctors, and other health professionals at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles came together to perform a series of surgeries lasting over 20 hours.

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During multi-organ transplants, surgeons follow a meticulous step-by-step process, considering the amount of time each organ can tolerate outside the body. Dr. Tyler Gunn, a cardiothoracic surgeon at Cedars’ Schmidt Heart Institute, explains that the heart transplant is the first step, similar to a heart-only transplant. However, after completing the heart transplant, the chest is left open, allowing the liver team to perform their anastomosis (connecting the two organs).

The liver transplant, led by Dr. Nicholas Nissen, surgical director of the liver transplant program, involves opening the abdomen, removing the existing liver, and replacing it with the new liver. This delicate procedure is complicated by the fact that the fresh heart is just beginning to function, supplying blood to the organs.

Finally, Sams underwent kidney transplant surgery to replace his failing kidneys. Two weeks later, he was well on his way to a full recovery.

“It’s a miracle,” says Sams. “I was having heart, kidney, and liver issues, and now I have a clean bill of health. I can walk upstairs, I got my energy back, and I am happy that I had this opportunity so I can let other people know that there is hope.”

According to Dr. Justin Steggerda, a transplant surgeon at Cedars-Sinai who participated in the operation, one of the keys to success in any transplant surgery is having a young and highly motivated patient, which Sams exemplifies. He also credits the support of Sams’ family, who ensured he took his medication and provided him with the internal motivation to overcome the difficult operation.

Fortunately, Sams’ post-transplant recovery has been excellent. He no longer requires dialysis, and his new liver is functioning appropriately, as stated by Dr. Gunn.

While this inspiring story offers hope to those in need of organ transplants, the reality is that triple organ transplants are still rare and incredibly challenging. Not all medical centers in the United States offer transplants, and even among those that do, very few perform dual organ transplants, let alone triple organ transplants.

Dr. Gabriel Schnickel, surgical director of liver transplantation at the University of California-San Diego Health, emphasizes the complexity of identifying suitable patients and donors while coordinating the timing for multi-organ transplants. Collaboration between surgeons and advances in medical technology, such as the use of perfusion machines to extend the viability of organs outside the body, have helped improve the success rate of these intricate procedures.

Transplant surgeries, especially those involving multiple organs, necessitate a lifetime of immunosuppressant medication to prevent organ rejection. The heart team plays a crucial role in managing immunosuppressants, as the heart is the most likely organ to be rejected.

As medical science continues to advance and transplant techniques improve, stories like Valance Sams Sr.’s offer hope and exemplify the remarkable achievements possible in the field of organ transplantation. Each successful triple organ transplant not only saves a life but also opens doors for future medical breakthroughs.

For more information on organ donation and transplantation, visit the United Network for Organ Sharing.