At just 19, Aliana Deveza made history with a groundbreaking teenager organ donation that saved her mother’s life. She orchestrated a complex organ exchange, becoming the first in the United States to arrange a swap involving unrelated donors. This innovative approach not only rescued her mother from years of debilitating illness but also saved the life of a stranger.
The procedure, which took two years of planning, involved Aliana donating a segment of her liver to one woman, while the woman’s sister donated a kidney to Aliana’s mother. This exchange highlights the potential of organ swaps to save multiple lives through cooperation and determination.
A New Hope for Organ Donation
Teenager organ donation stories like Aliana’s emphasize the challenges and rewards of this selfless act. Kidney transplants, one of the few organ donations possible from living donors, often face compatibility issues, even among family members. Nobel Prize-winning economist Alvin Roth devised a system to optimize donor-recipient matches, resulting in thousands of successful kidney exchanges annually.
In Aliana’s case, her mother couldn’t directly receive her kidney due to hereditary risks. Instead of giving up, Aliana explored alternatives and discovered that liver segments could also be donated while living. She persistently reached out to hospitals, often being misunderstood, but eventually connected with a supportive medical team at the University of California, San Francisco.
Challenges and Determination
Aliana’s courage broke barriers, but her journey wasn’t easy. Many hospitals dismissed her idea, and even her family feared for her safety. Despite these challenges, Aliana’s unwavering determination led to the successful teenager organ donation that transformed lives. Her mother was freed from the constant struggle of kidney dialysis, and a stranger gained a second chance at life.
A Message to Inspire Others
Aliana hopes her story encourages more people to consider organ donation. “People are afraid because these are major surgeries with risks,” she said. “But with the right medical team, it’s a process worth exploring. The impact can be life-changing.”
Her groundbreaking effort serves as an inspiring example of how teenager organ donation can overcome barriers, save lives, and offer hope to families in need.
