Maine girl bouncing back after 6-organ transplant

[Allhallowsday]

Maine girl bouncing back after 6-organ transplant 
By CLARKE CANFIELD | Associated Press
http://news.yahoo.com/maine-girl-bouncing-back-6-organ-transplant-230711534.html
HOLLIS, Maine (AP) — A 9-year-old Maine girl is home from a Boston hospital healthy, active and with high hopes — and a new stomach, liver, spleen, small intestine, pancreas, and part of an esophagus to replace the ones that were being choked by a huge tumor.

It's believed to be the first-ever transplant of an esophagus and the largest number of organs transplanted at one time in New England.

Spunky and bright-eyed as she scampered around her family's farmhouse outside Portland, Alannah Shevenell said Thursday that she's glad to be feeling well again and able to go sledding, make a snowman, work on her scrapbooks and give her grandmother a little good-humored sass.

The best part, though? "Being home," she said. "Just being home."

It was 2008 when Alannah, then 5, began running a fever and losing weight while her belly swelled. Doctors discovered the tumor that year and twice attempted to remove it, as it made its way like octopus legs from organ to organ. But it was difficult to access what turned out to be a rare form of sarcoma, said Debi Skolas, Alannah's grandmother, and chemotherapy didn't do the trick, either... 

...More than anything, though, the family is thankful for the girl's second chance at life and to the family that went through the pain of losing a child and before deciding to donate the organs to help Alannah.

"That was a courageous decision," Debi Skolas said... 

http://news.yahoo.com/maine-girl-bouncing-back-6-organ-transplant-230711534.html

[AndyC]

Amazing story. I had no idea most of those organs even could be transplanted.

But I can't help feeling bad for what that kid's been through. Here's hoping those new organs stay healthy and she keeps doing well.

[tracy]

That is amazing and wonderful....may He continue to heal her.