| Mobile, Ala. (October 30, 2003) |
| Contact: Barbara Shaw, USA Hospitals Public Relations (251) 471-7262 |
 USA MARKS 100TH KIDNEY TRANSPLANT
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| The Gulf Coast Regional Transplant Center located at USA Medical Center recently celebrated its 100th transplant with a reception for patients and staff. The 100th patient, 64 year-old Larry Hunt of Mobile, waited seven years for a kidney. Statewide more than 2,000 people are on a waiting list for kidneys, calling attention to the need for more organ donors. From left to right are Dr. Mario Magnone, USA transplant nephrologist, Deloris Hunt, Larry Hunt and Dr. Velma Scantlebury, medical director of transplantation services for the USA Gulf Coast Regional Transplant Center. |
The Gulf Coast Regional Transplant Center located at USA Medical Center
celebrated its 100th kidney transplant with a reception for transplant patients on October 27.
The 100th transplant patient, 64-year-old Larry Hunt of Mobile, waited seven years before receiving a kidney that was donated by the family of a deceased individual. Currently more than two thousand people are on a waiting list for a kidney in Alabama.
Dr. Velma Scantlebury, professor of surgery and director of transplantation services at the University of South Alabama, says more community awareness is needed to increase the number of organ donors.
"There are many patients in Alabama waiting for kidney transplantation and most of them are African American. Less than 300 get transplanted each year, so those on the waiting list may have to wait a really long time before getting a kidney," said Scantlebury. |
