Pediatric Organ Transplant
UVA Health Children’s pediatric transplant specialists offer compassionate, individualized care for children before, during, and after a transplant. Our team of transplant coordinators, nurses, social workers, and financial counselors work with the entire family to ease the process and make you and your child as comfortable as possible.
Pediatric Organ Transplant at UVA Health Children's
We’re the only hospital in the region to perform pediatric organ transplants from newborns to young adults. We receive patients from across Virginia and beyond to help children with the most complex cases, including retransplantation, or "re-do" transplants.
Find out more about our transplant programs:
Jayden's Heart Transplant Story
Jayden was born with a serious congenital heart defect, hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). At age 7, he got so sick that he had to go on the heart transplant list. Jayden got his new heart in May 2024 and had to be in the hospital for months, but now his mom loves watching him run and play with his siblings and cousins.
Jewel Quarles: My name is Jewel Quarles, and I'm Jayden Miles' mom, and we are from Richmond, Virginia.
Jewel: I knew Jayden was my miracle baby because he has been through a lot. I kept hearing bad news from birth on up, and I just feel like he's a miracle to me.
Jewel: Jayden was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome with heterotaxia splenia, meaning basically he was born with one heart valve.
Jewel: He was two days old when he got his first surgery, he was five months when he got his second surgery, and three years old when he got his third surgery.
Jewel: This past May of 2024, he got sick and had to get rushed to the hospital. He got transferred here to UVA. They tried all sorts of medications to see if it would get his heart pumping, but it just wasn't doing what it's supposed to do. So he had to get on the transplant list.
Jewel: And then a heart became available, and he had his open heart surgery, and he’s doing well. The recovery part, it was a lot that he had to do because he had fluid on his lungs, he had to learn how to walk again. The nurses, all the staff here, PT, OT, the doctors, surgeons, everyone just stayed on top of everything.
Jewel: The doctors in the hospital were miraculous. I had days I didn't know if I was coming or going, but whatever is in God's plan, just stay strong and believe and have faith and hope because I'm telling you, Jayden is definitely a miracle because he has almost lost his life twice, and he's still here.
Jewel: Today, we're going in so Jayden can have his EKG done, and his echo of his heart. So far, everything's looking good. I'm very pleased. The doctors are really pleased. I'm just a happy proud parent.
Jewel: I want to thank the family, for donating, I can’t even explain it, I'm almost ready to cry. We are very thankful for the family. For people that don't choose to donate, please donate. It saves lives