2 patients. 6 organs. 27 hours.

Several rooms apart in the University of Chicago Medicine ICU, Sarah McPharlin and Daru Smith were on an unexpected journey into the record books, forging a unique friendship along the way.

Both 29, they became the first patients to receive back-to-back triple-organ transplants to replace failing hearts, livers and kidneys. The procedures took place from Dec. 19 to 21, 2018. A holiday miracle, some called it.

According to federal data, it is the first time a U.S. hospital has ever performed more than one of these complex procedures within one year, much less within 27 hours. Their cases are the 16th and 17th time this type of triple-organ transplant has ever been performed in this country.

With the addition of these two cases, UChicago Medicine has now performed six of these procedures, more than any other institution in the world. Continue reading

Daru & Sarah's incredible story was featured in the September issue of Chicago magazine

Meet Sarah and Daru

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Meet Sarah and Daru

Daru and Sarah were an inspiration to each other as they recuperated. And they hope publicity about their cases will raise awareness about organ donation.
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Meet the Triple-Organ Transplant Physician Leaders