Kidney Transplants
Driscoll Children's Hospital Kidney Transplant Program and Kidney Center staff are dedicated to improving the quality of life of children who need dialysis until they are able to receive a transplant - from diagnosis and pre-transplant testing and counseling to transplant surgery and recovery. Driscoll will care for young patients living with their donor kidney well into adulthood.
Driscoll Children’s Hospital Kidney Transplant Program has performed more than 129 pediatric kidney transplants. Kidney recipients range in age from 1 to 24 years old. Transplantation is the treatment of choice for end-stage renal disease. In most cases, a child must be on dialysis, a man-made method of filtering the blood, until a compatible donor becomes available. With on-site pediatric dialysis in Corpus Christi and McAllen, Texas, Driscoll Children's Hospital offers a full circle of care for infants and children with end-stage renal disease.
For being so tiny, a child's kidneys are mighty organs. They are responsible for removing wastes and excess water from the blood, regulating blood pressure, sodium and potassium levels and making hormones responsible for growth and red blood cells. Conditions such as birth defects and other hereditary diseases can cause the kidneys to stop working.
More than 10,000 patients in Texas are on the waiting list for kidneys. More than 100 are under the age of 18.* With Driscoll's Kidney Transplant Program offering comprehensive, quality, pediatric kidney care in South Texas, children with end-stage-renal disease are able to receive care close to home.
*This information is based on OPTN (Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network) data as of 1/25/2022*
Living Donor Program
Living donation is the process of transplanting a kidney from a healthy individual into a person with kidney failure. Families are provided education on the living donation process, pre- and post-donation care. A Living Donor Advocate is provided to the potential living donor who follows the candidate throughout the different phases of living donation.
If you are interested in donating a kidney, you can start the process by filling out a Living Donor Questionnaire and emailing it to anita.rosales@dchstx.org or belinda.lavake@dchstx.org, or fax it to (361) 808-2021.
If you have any questions regarding Living Donation or the Driscoll Living Donor Program, please reach out to our Transplant Coordinators who will be happy to answer your questions.
Our Team
Children and their families benefit from specialized care provided by our experienced team members, recognized as some of the best in South Texas, and all specially trained in working exclusively with children.
Our team consists of:
- A pediatric transplant surgeon
- Four pediatric transplant nephrologists (kidney doctors)
- Nurses (nephrology, dialysis, transplant)
- Dietitians
- Social Workers
With support from:
- Pediatric sub-specialists
- Pharmacists
- Child Life Specialists
- Other healthcare professionals
Driscoll's staff will assist, counsel and educate families through dialysis, pre- and post-operative requirements and dietary changes so that they may successfully manage their child's health and emotional needs.
Transplant Coordinators
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Anita Rosales, RN, CPN, CCTC Belinda LaVake, RN, CDN |
(361) 694-5574 (361) 694-4866 |
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Transplant Reunion
Driscoll kidney transplant patients and their families gather each year for the Transplant Reunion. The event is designed for patients and their families to enjoy some fun, food, games and fellowship.
Valeria’s Story
Brownsville girl thankful for kidney transplant at Driscoll Children's Hospital.
Visit all your child's specialists in one trip to Driscoll Children's Hospital.
For your convenience, please ask any of our specialty clinics to coordinate all of your child's appointments in one day.
You can contact us at (361) 694-5000 or call your specialty clinic directly for further assistance.