At Texas Children’s Pediatric Transplant Center, multidisciplinary teams are committed to saving patients’ lives through transformative transplant care. Last year, the center’s teams treated 144 transplant patients, giving these children a second chance at life.
Behind every transplant is a team dedicated to making that possible. This Donate Life Month, we’re celebrating the people behind that care.
That same dedication is reflected in the care they provide every day across the Pediatric Transplant Center.
Dr. Julia Steinke, a pediatric nephrologist and the Medical Director of the Kidney Transplant Program, is one of the providers helping make a difference. Thanks to her expertise, Luis, a young patient in need of another kidney after years of complex medical challenges, received life-saving care.
“We are so grateful to the families who make the decision to provide the gift of life to kids like Luis,” Dr. Steinke said. “Seeing these children have a second chance to chase their dreams is inspiring.”
Dr. Steinke is also passionate about educating families and the community about organ donation. She noted that most pediatric transplants rely on the gift of deceased donors. With more than 100,000 people waiting nationwide, mainly for kidney transplants, she emphasized how critical donors are in giving children a chance to embrace life fully.
With more than 50 transplants last year and over 700 since the program began, the Kidney Transplant Program has achieved the highest pediatric kidney transplant volume in the nation in decades. The program is dedicated to providing advanced, holistic transplant care to help patients return to school, activities and daily life. The program also supports families through the challenges of transplant, ensuring every child and family receives the guidance they need.
Kathleen (Katie) Thomas, a kidney transplant coordinator whose sister received a kidney at Texas Children’s, said supporting families through their transplant journey is a rewarding experience. “Being an organ donor is one of the greatest gifts you can give someone,” Katie said. “Most of these kids have spent their whole lives sick, and an organ gives them the best opportunity to experience a near-normal childhood and even adulthood.”
That shared commitment to life-saving transplant care extends across the center. Wendy Jagape, an inpatient staff nurse, experiences firsthand how every transplant relies on collaboration beyond the operating room.
“The transplant story doesn’t start or end in the operating room,” Wendy said. “An extraordinary amount of coordination goes into every case. Our surgeons work with a vast web of specialists who guide each child and family through their journey.”
This dedication shapes how providers like Dr. Steinke approach their work, where caring for children goes far beyond medicine.
“While there are many technical challenges, the most gratifying part of my job is working with children,” she said. “I love receiving a painting or picture from my patients. They are treasures. Learning about their hopes and dreams is fulfilling.”
In honor of Donate Life Month and Pediatric Transplant Week (April 19 – 25), we celebrate the team members whose collaboration and dedication have made more than 2,200 pediatric transplants possible and continue to give children the chance to grow, heal and live fully.