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Jackie Ferman
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ST. LOUIS, September 29, 2003 -- Two families are celebrating two lives thanks to a ‘split-decision’ by doctors at St. Louis Children’s and Barnes-Jewish Hospitals. They decided to give 49-year-old LuAnn Schupp and 5-year-old Lucie Gleason pieces of the same liver in a rare transplant procedure this past July.
Both LuAnn and Lucie had progressed into liver failure. LuAnn suffered from hepatic encephalopathy, which means her liver could not properly process dangerous toxins. For Lucie, it was cancer.
Both recipients met for the first time on September 25 at a special party thrown by transplant coordinators at Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children’s Hospitals.
Lucie’s father, Bill Gleason, noticed the unique connection between his daughter and LuAnn right away. "They share a very special bond and you can see they just instantly knew they were connected somehow."
Surgical Director Will Chapman, MD, says LuAnn’s small stature made her a good adult candidate for a partial liver. "We were able to split this liver from a normal adult donor into a small portion for our pediatric recipient and use the larger portion for our adult recipient."
"I love Lucie," says LuAnn. "It’s not a pun. I love Lucie. She’s part of me now. I just feel like we’re going to grow up together."
Both Lucie and LuAnn each brought their "other half" a gift at their special gathering. Lucie got the latest "Lilo and Stitch" video, while LuAnn received a bouquet of roses. But both families sent a strong message about the real gift on everybody’s minds that day. The gift that saved both patients’ lives, and brought them together in celebration.
Lucie’s mom, Leah Gleason, remembered the other children still waiting for organ transplants. "There’s a lot of children in need of prayers and a lot of help."
LuAnn was more direct. "It’s wonderful that both of our lives were saved by one donor. Be a donor. Be a donor. Because it saves lives. One liver saved both of us." St. Louis Children’s Hospital has provided specialized care for children for more than 120 years. Children’s Hospital is affiliated with Washington University School of Medicine, ranked the second best medical school in the country by US News & World Report. In 2003, Child magazine ranked St. Louis Children’s Hospital sixth on its list of the 10 Best children’s hospitals in the country, and fourth in neonatology/neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). St. Louis Children’s Hospital also is a member of BJC HealthCare.