Jul 14, 2008 4:00 pm US/Eastern
Health: Juvenile Lung Transplants
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
In health, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia has again been named the best in the country. Medical Reporter Stephanie Stahl has details on how it saved one very grateful little boy and his family.
A family from Michigan was initially told there was no hope; their little boy would die from a terminal illness.
But they refused to give up, and it was at CHOP that their prayers were answered.
There was a time when Marcellius "Celli" Sears couldn't play with bubbles, or ride a bike, because of a rare lung disease.
"There was some bleeding in his lungs at the time which gave him this horrible diagnosis called idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis," said Lisa Ortega-Sears, Celli's mother. She was told her son's disease was terminal.
"I remember just praying and saying Lord, just let me see his eyes one more time. That was so important to me, to be able to look at him and just tell him I love him one more time. And, God answered my prayer," said Lisa.
It was at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, after waiting for eight months, Celli finally got a lung transplant.
"For me, it was happy, scared at the same time, but happy," said Celli.
His surgeon, Dr. Thomas Spray, is a pioneer in pediatric lung transplantation.
"Lung transplantation is very complex operation with high risk," said Dr. Spray.
The operation could have lasted eight hours. Dr. Spray finished in less than four.
"These lungs have been a blessing. Marcellius has healed miraculously," said Lisa.
"I didn't think I would make it but I got 'em. I gave it a try," said Celli.
"This is what it's about. This is what's so important is being able to watch your child do the normal things that any other child can do," said Lisa.
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's survival outcomes in all organ transplants exceed the national average.
They've performed a total of 58 lung transplants, with nine of those happening in the past two years. The operation is pretty rare, but their most recent transplant was just three weeks ago.
RELATED LINKS:Lung Transplant Information-
http://www.chop.edu/consumer/your_child/condition_section_index.jsp?id=-8048#CHOP Transplant Center Information-
http://www.chop.edu/consumer/jsp/division/generic.jsp?id=84309
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