One kidney transplanted twice in two weeks

For the first time, a kidney that had been donated to one patient was removed and implanted into a new patient, after it failed in the first transplant recipient. Ray Fearing received the organ from his sister after a long battle with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), in which scar tissue develops on the kidney. When signs of his illness reoccurred just days after the operation, doctors had to remove the failing kidney. But, they realized that Fearing could potentially save someone else's life by donating the organ, something that had never successfully been done with a kidney. "After numerous discussions to carefully consider this first-ever procedure, we presented Ray with the option to donate his kidney," said Lorenzo Gallon, medical director of the kidney transplant program Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Fearing did not hesitate. Two weeks after receiving his kidney transplant, he donated his kidney to 67-year-old surgeon and father of five, Erwin Gomez.