The Kidney Transplant team recently reached an extraordinary milestone: their 700th kidney transplant. To mark the occasion, team members came together for a fun and festive celebration. Among those reflecting on this journey were two transplant coordinators, both of whom have dedicated more than a decade to this life-changing work.
Dana Harney, transplant coordinator, is approaching her 12th year at Texas Children’s and has witnessed firsthand the evolution of the program. While recalling countless meaningful moments, one stood out from nine years ago: “One of the greatest experiences I’ve had here was helping four waitlisted patients receive their transplants within just 18 hours. One of the recipients, a 28-year-old, was active on the waitlist for 13 years and that surgery marked the 400th kidney transplant. To think we have had 300 additional transplants since March 11, 2016, and I have been a part of each one, is unfathomable! I have truly been a part of history in the making.”
“It is an absolute privilege to be a part of the renal transplant team at Texas Children’s Hospital and work alongside intelligent, assertive, autonomous coordinators who serve our patients tirelessly,” she continued. “I am excited to embrace and embark on the next steps for my future within kidney transplant division of Transplant Services.”
A kidney transplant coordinator plays a vital role in guiding families through the complex process, coordinating all activities with the highest quality of care. They serve our patients tirelessly, weathering late nights coordinating care and conducting difficult conversations all while staying on call for potential transplantation.
Transplant Coordinator Kirti Bhakta, who has worked in kidney transplant for the past 13 years, described the most rewarding part of her job, “There’s nothing more satisfying for a transplant coordinator than hearing the call from the OR: ‘We have reperfusion time.’ Celebrating our program’s 700th kidney transplant brings me immense joy, knowing that’s one less child who will need dialysis.”
Kirti has witnessed significant changes in the role over the years from adapting to new regulations and to constantly staying prepared for UNOS and CMS site visits. Her journey has included countless cherished moments, each leaving a lasting impression. “I remember the first kidney transplant I coordinated on my own—during a rare Houston snowfall when the roads were icy. Leadership told us to stay home, but I was determined to drive in and set up the transplant. Setting up that transplant and watching our talented transplant surgeons at work is something I will never forget.”
The kidney team continues to grow, averaging 36-38 transplants per year, with another record year on the horizon. With this growth comes the challenge of a longer waitlist, but the team is no longer limited to local Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs) for organ offers and can now search within a 250 nautical mile radius of our hospital.
For Kirti, the future is bright, “As leadership evolves, so does innovation, and I’m excited to see what the future holds. I look forward to spending the next 13 years in transplant, committed to the same passion and dedication that has guided me all these years.”
Click here to learn more about the Kidney Transplant Program.
