Solid Organ Transplant

Giving Children a Fighting Chance

The Nemours Solid Organ Transplant team oversees one of the largest pediatric heart, liver and kidney transplant programs in the country. Our specialists work together as a coordinated team to give your child complete transplant care at every step.

Learn More About Heart Transplants , Kidney Transplants and Liver Transplants

Conditions We Treat With an Organ Transplant

Our pediatric solid organ transplant team provides full-service care for children with all kinds of diseases that require:

Organ Transplant Services We Offer

At Nemours, we were early adopters of living-related donor procedures, which allow a living relative to donate part of their liver or one of their kidneys. This makes it possible for more children to receive a transplant as soon as possible. And it increases their chances of long-term survival after the transplant.

We also performed the very first heart transplant in the state of Delaware. Now, families come from all over the region for our high-quality pediatric heart care. Many people and programs need to be in place to have a successful pediatric heart transplant program, and Nemours has brought them all together in one place.

Our Organ Transplant Team

Our Solid Organ Transplant Program offers complete treatment and support services from highly experienced transplant team members who have dedicated their lives to helping children like yours. Depending on your child's condition, your care team may include many of these providers:

transplant coordinator — a specially trained nurse who serves as your point person, arranging all the details of your child’s care
transplant surgeons — who are trained and board-certified in pediatric surgery, with further training in pediatric liver and kidney transplant surgery and care
cardiothoracic surgeons — heart surgeons who perform heart transplants and provide close follow-up care after the transplant
cardiologists — heart doctors who care for your child before and long after a heart transplant
hepatologist/gastroenterologists — digestive tract specialists who also evaluate and treat kids with liver problems
nephrologists — kidney care specialists who evaluate and treat kids with kidney (renal) problems
pediatricians — children’s doctors who provide care around the time of the transplant and over the long term
dietitians/nutritionists — who offer advice and meal plans for kids with specific nutritional needs
physical and occupational therapists — who encourage specific activities and movement to make sure your child is physically strong before leaving the hospital
pharmacists — experts in medication use for liver disease or transplant patients
social workers — who give your child and family emotional support, and help you prepare for each step of the process
psychologists and psychiatrists — who offer a wide range of emotional support services
pastoral care — clergy who can give spiritual support
Child Life specialists — who are specially trained to work with kids who are sick and receiving treatment in a hospital setting
financial coordinator — who works with you and your insurance company to arrange all financial aspects of your child’s care before and after the transplant

Why Choose Us for Your Child's Organ Transplant

At the Nemours Solid Organ Transplant Program, we:

focus on your child’s quality of life before, during and after transplant
offer top-rate therapy that helps children get better and get back home quicker
consider the needs of every child referred to us, no matter how complicated their case

Our goal — our hope — is that your child will enjoy continued improvement and progress that opens the doors for a long lifetime of possibilities.

Regional Solid Organ Transplant Highlights

Delaware Valley/Greater Philadelphia

We offer solid organ transplant care at Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children (Wilmington, Del.), with follow-up appointments at select Nemours duPont Pediatrics locations.

named one of the best children’s hospitals in the country for pediatric cardiology and heart surgery , gastroenterology (GI) and GI surgery by U.S. News & World Report
one of the only dedicated pediatric centers in the country to offer a full-service approach to liver tumors in kids, with experts in oncology (cancer care), interventional radiology (image-guided therapy), general surgery and liver transplantation
one of only a few children’s hospitals nationwide named a Pediatric Heart Failure Institute by the Healthcare Accreditation Colloquium
program approved by United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) , working in partnership with the Gift of Life Donor Program
collaboration with the world-renowned Thomas Jefferson University (TJU) Hospital transplant team
close follow-up care after transplant, both as inpatients (in the hospital) and outpatients (at office appointments)
expertise in fetal (unborn baby) problems that may require an organ transplant after birth — working with expectant parents to diagnose diseases in the womb, help them prepare, and provide care as soon as their baby’s born
advanced pediatric medical imaging services
a protective environment with filtered air for children with weakened immune systems
Ronald McDonald House of Delaware right across from our campus, for an affordable home away from home during long hospital stays