Sheila Perry of Wheaton, Illinois, became the oldest known woman in the state to receive a kidney transplant when she underwent surgery at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, according to a June 17 announcement. At 87 years old, Perry had been turned away by other health systems due to her age and associated risks before finding care at Northwestern Medicine.
“Age is just a number,” said Mohammed Javeed Ansari, MD, a nephrologist at Northwestern Medicine. “What we’re looking at is the functional status of the recipient. If someone is living their life at 87, just like a 67-year-old would, they deserve the opportunity to receive a life-saving transplant.”
Ansari presented Perry’s case to colleagues at the Northwestern Medicine Organ Transplant Center and advocated for her acceptance. Vinayak Rohan, MD, performed her surgery on March 6. “When Sheila was presented to the committee, everybody was taken aback a little bit,” said Dr. Rohan. “It's not every day that we see an 87-year-old looking for a transplant. But after reviewing her health history and seeing how fit she was, we were confident we could do this successfully.”
Dr. Rohan said organ transplants in older patients may become more common as people live longer worldwide and populations age: “Surgery and immunosuppression are harder on the body of an older patient, so we’ll have to adapt,” he said. “We can adjust immunosuppression, cut surgery times, and perform awake kidney transplants without the risks of general anesthesia.” He also noted that more older donors are being considered: “Even donors in their 70s are being considered,” said Dr. Ansari. “From a biologic perspective and a physical perspective, age should not be a contraindication for transplantation.”
Just three months after her surgery, Perry has returned to daily activities including walking several miles each day and engaging with arts organizations such as ballet or museums; she also plans future travel once cleared by doctors. “This transplant was an opportunity to add a few more years to my life,” said Perry.
Perry offered advice for other older patients seeking similar procedures: “Find an advocate who will believe in you,” she said. “If it can save your life, you are worthy of someone else’s kidney even if you’re in your 80s.”
Northwestern Medicine aims to provide world-class care through its patient-focused mission encompassing patient care, education and research; it functions under parent organization Northwestern Memorial HealthCare with Howard B. Chrisman serving as president and chief executive officer; it also engages in strategic collaborations advancing clinical research and education while recognizing community contributions through humanitarian awards reflecting compassion and impact, according to its official website.
