A 64-year-old American man has become the first ever in the country with a genetic condition to undergo a triple-organ transplant, receiving a liver, kidney, and lungs from the same deceased donor.⁣ Battling Alpha-1 antitrypsin or AAT deficiency, Don Elliot – a grandfather of 18, had an organ transplant as the last resort to save his life, as the genetic condition began wreaking havoc on some of his most vital organs.

The disease – which Elliot had managed to keep under control with medicine for more than 20 years – led to severe cirrhosis as well as a life-threatening form of emphysema - caused by an inability to produce a vital protein called antitrypsin that serves to protect those organs. Ultimately, Don’s damaged liver led to kidney failure which forced him to undergo intermittent dialysis.⁣

“I had asthma as a kid, and over the years ended up in a hospital with pneumonia and bronchitis more times than I can count,” recalled Don, a resident of Findlay, Ohio. “I’ve been sick for quite a while, but in September 2023 it got really bad,” he added.

Thereafter, a team of doctors – in a bid to save his life, devised a treatment plan, making him undergo a liver-lungs-kidney transplant with all organs coming from the same deceased donor.

“I said, yes, let’s do it. There was no other choice. I had run out of options, and I wanted to be here for my wife, kids, and grandchildren. I knew I had to do this,” he said.

According to his doctors, Don would not have survived longer than a year had he not undergone the multi-organ transplant.

The lung transplantation surgery happened first with the doctors transplanting two lungs into Don’s chest. However, the donated liver was kept viable using an ex-vivo organ perfusion device that maintained the proper temperature and oxygenation needed.⁣

After the lung surgery, the liver team began their portion of the procedure, in a 12-hour operation. And once he was stable, the kidney transplantation team, undertook the final segment of Don’s multi-organ transplant, finishing about 24 hours after the first part of the operation began.⁣

After his surgeries concluded, Don had to endure a lengthy recovery time - spending more than six weeks in the hospital, with the first few days on life support. Doctors were monitoring him closely and were happy with his remarkable progress.⁣ “It's just amazing. I can breathe easily, I can walk every day, and I'm chasing the grandkids around. I’m able to enjoy life, and I have my donor and their family to thank for this priceless gift and opportunity,” he said.

According to the doctors, they took organs from a single donor to avoid diseased organs failing from the stress of a single organ transplant and the patient undergoing surgeries many times.

While Don’s surgical teams would have been willing to use a kidney from an additional donor – months after his initial surgeries—they were fortunate Don’s donor also had a suitable kidney available.

According to Don’s doctors, more than six months after his multiple surgeries – Don has completely recovered and has even vacationed in Florida, where he enjoyed walking the beach while breathing on his own without supplemental oxygen - something he was not able to do prior to surgery.

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