Crozer Health Transplant Team Provides Kidney Patient with New Lease on Life

Physicians at Crozer Health’s Regional Kidney Transplant Center recently performed a live donor kidney transplant, offering a patient a second chance at life. 

Jennifer Hookey, 39, was diagnosed with advanced kidney disease six years ago by her Crozer Health nephrologist, C. Nathan Okechukwu, M.D., and was told she would eventually need a transplant. Without much kidney function and drained of energy, she could no longer work as a Licensed Practical Nurse and slept most of the day, and she was nearing the time when she would need dialysis. She had been on the transplant waiting list for about a year. Fortunately, a close friend stepped in with an offer that would give her a new lease on life.  

Erin Markham and Jenn became close in middle school and remained friends into their 30s, even though their lives went in different directions. In early 2021, they met for dinner to catch up and Jenn shared the grim news about her condition. Without missing a beat, Erin offered Jenn one of her kidneys. Jenn was shocked, but incredibly grateful. 

“We have two kidneys, and we only need one,” Erin explained.  “It was the human thing to do.” 

Erin contacted Jenn’s transplant team at Crozer Health’s Regional Kidney Transplant Center at Crozer-Chester Medical Center and began a series of tests, lasting six months, to ensure she would be a good match. Once she passed, the surgeries were scheduled for late October with experienced and highly skilled transplant surgeons Sunny L. Fink, M.D. and Thomas E. Butler, M.D.

Living donor transplants are ideal, as there is less time when the organ is ischemic – without blood – than with a deceased donor. Dr. Fink removed Erin’s kidney laparoscopically and Jenn was ready to immediately receive it from Dr. Butler. Both surgeries were a complete success.

Today, Jenn is feeling like a new person, with much more energy than before, and Erin has resumed her normal routine. They are in touch often, and both follow up with their Crozer Health team as needed.

Jenn and Erin will forever share a bond that can’t be broken. And thanks to Crozer Health transplant team, both have long, full lives ahead of them.  You can watch Jenn and Erin’s journey here. 

For more information about Crozer Health’s Regional Transplant Center, visit https://www.crozerhealth.org/locations/practices/c/crozer-health-regional-kidney-transplant-center/. 

For information on becoming an organ donor, visit www.donors1.org.