INP and Fight For Life Club Foundation Make History: Two Pediatric Living Donor Liver Transplants in One Week

MEXICO CITY, Feb. 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A historic milestone has been reached in Mexico! In an unprecedented week, the National Institute of Pediatrics (INP), in collaboration with the Fight For Life Club Foundation, successfully performed two pediatric living donor liver transplants, giving two children a second chance at life. This achievement marks a new era in pediatric transplantation, proving that when passionate teams unite, miracles happen.

A Lifeline for Children in Need

Every year, hundreds of children in Mexico fight for their lives while waiting for a liver transplant. But waiting isn't always an option.

With only 4.5 deceased organ donors per million inhabitants, the need for living donor transplants is greater than ever. A living donor pediatric liver transplant program offers hope and a real solution—reducing wait times, improving survival rates, and ensuring children receive life-saving care before it's too late.

This program helps children suffering from biliary atresia (43% of pediatric liver transplants), liver tumors like hepatoblastoma, metabolic disorders (13%), and fulminant hepatitis (12%). Studies show that children who receive living donor transplants are 42% less likely to die in the first year compared to those relying on deceased donors.

This initiative is a major step forward for pediatric healthcare in Mexico, ensuring that more children receive transplants in time to survive and thrive.

The Visionary Leadership Behind This Success

This breakthrough was made possible by INP's leadership, under Dr. Mercedes Macías Parra, General Director, and Dr. Amalia Guadalupe Bravo Lindoro, Medical Director. Their commitment to building a world-class pediatric transplant program has positioned INP as a leader in Latin America.

The Heroes Behind the Transplants

This success would not have been possible without a dedicated team of medical professionals, each playing a vital role in these life-saving surgeries.

We recognize the outstanding leadership of Dr. Antonio Medina, Chief of Transplant and Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery at INP, alongside Drs. Esperanza Vidales and Manuel Rodríguez-Dávalos, whose expertise and commitment ensured these transplants were successful.

A special acknowledgment goes to Dr. Manuel Rodríguez-Dávalos, leader of the surgical team and board member of Fight For Life Club Foundation, whose vision is transforming pediatric liver transplantation in Mexico.

We also thank Drs. Daniel Hernández and Jorge Enrique Maza, as well as Dr. Martha Patricia Márquez, Head of the ICU Unit at INP, and her team for their dedicated post-operative care.

A special thank you to the anesthesia team, led by Dr. Ulises Soto and Dr. Silvia Peña, for ensuring the safety and well-being of both donors and recipients throughout these procedures.

The True Champions: The Liver Donors

The true heroes of these transplants are the living liver donors—selfless individuals who offered a part of themselves to give a child a future.

Their courage, generosity, and love embody the highest form of human kindness.

Their sacrifice has given these children the chance to laugh, play, and dream again. Their gift is the gift of life itself.

Shaping the Future of Pediatric Transplantation

This is just the beginning. The INP and Fight For Life Club Foundation are committed to building a sustainable, world-class pediatric liver transplant program, ensuring that no child is left behind due to a lack of access to life-saving surgery.

By raising awareness about organ donation, fostering collaboration between medical institutions, and expanding access to living donor transplants, this initiative will continue to save more lives, one child at a time.

A Call to Action: Be a Part of the Fight for Life!

At Fight For Life Club Foundation, we believe every child deserves a fighting chance.

Join us in this fight. Become an organ donor, support our mission, and help us give more children a second chance at life!

Media Contact:

Manuel Cadena

817-239-4208

[email protected]

SOURCE Fight 4 Life Inc.