Nearly 300 transplant patients and their families gathered at AdventHealth Orlando on March 30 for the hospital’s annual transplant reunion picnic. The event brought together organ donors, recipients, and the doctors, nurses, and caregivers who supported them during their transplant journeys.
The gathering highlights the importance of advanced transplant care for those waiting for lifesaving procedures. Nearly 110,000 people in the United States are currently waiting for a transplant, with more than 700 under the care of teams at the AdventHealth Transplant Institute. For many patients and families, access to these services can mean more time together.
AdventHealth recently marked two milestones that expand access to transplants. The institute performed its first living donor liver transplants through a new program designed to help patients receive organs sooner while giving loved ones or even strangers an opportunity to donate. Additionally, the team completed its first heart after liver transplant (HALT), a rare procedure offered by only a few centers nationwide.
The Transplant Institute works closely with OurLegacy, which coordinates organ donation across ten counties in east Central Florida. Residents interested in becoming organ donors can register at www.donatelifeflorida.org.
Many programs at AdventHealth’s Transplant Institute are supported by philanthropy. This includes amenities like the Bartch Transplant House—a facility providing affordable housing and support services funded through donations to the Patient Assistance Fund.
Located in Orlando since its founding in 1908, AdventHealth Orlando is led by president Terry Shaw and serves as both a pediatric ward provider and training hospital according to available information.
