BOSTON — A 9-year-old Maine girl is heading home after a groundbreaking multiple organ transplant at Children’s Hospital Boston.
Alannah Shevenell of Hollis underwent 14 hours of surgery in October to remove an aggressive tumor and to undergo a transplant of her stomach, pancreas, spleen, liver, small bowel and esophagus.
Hospital officials say it was the first known esophageal transplant in the world and the largest number of organs transplanted into a person at one time in New England.
Alannah was diagnosed with a rare former of cancer when she was 4. The tumor snaked and twisted itself around her internal organs, choking the life out of them.
It didn’t respond to chemotherapy or surgery to get rid of it. Even the transplant was risky.
Alannah is scheduled to come home Wednesday.
good luck and speedy recovery Alannah.
Amazing. I hope you have a speedy recovery, brave girl!
Truly an amazing surgery…..wishing the best for this young girl and her family…..recover well!
Anyone have an address? I’ll bet she’d love to get some cards.
That’s a great idea! I bet she would.
Hollis is a town of 4,159 (according to the town’s website). I would be willing to bet that if cards were addressed only to Alannah Shevenell Hollis, ME 04042 they would make it to her!
What a great idea bigkid1950!
Please get well soon!!!
Keeping Alannah in my thoughts and prayers, get well soon!
What a soldier this child has had to be. If there are miracles in this world this child deserves one. Alannah, speedy recovery, and best wishes for a long, long and wonderful, joy filled life!
I would like to send a huge thank you to all the medical personal that made this happen.
Without you this young girl would never have had a chance at life.