Transplant

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is home to one of the leading pediatric transplant programs in the country, offering comprehensive pre- and post-transplant services to children, teens and young adults with end-stage diseases of the liver, heart and kidney. Since the beginning of our program in 1988, we have performed over 1,800 transplants and are proud have the third highest volumes of pediatric transplants including heart, liver and kidney, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing.

What is a transplant?

A solid organ transplant gives your child a healthy organ (heart, liver or kidney) from a donor. A donor is a person who gives your child an organ.

Learn about organ donation

Our Transplant Program is made up of a large multidisciplinary team who work closely together to provide comprehensive care for your child. Our team consists of transplant surgeons, physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, genetic counselors, nutritionists, pharmacists, social workers, transplant coordinators, child life specialists, infectious disease providers, psychologists, financial coordinators and administrative staff members.

• Meet the Heart Transplant Team
• Meet the Kidney Transplant Team
• Meet the Liver Transplant Team

Transplant surgeries are performed at Egleston Hospital. Pre- and post-transplant clinic visits are held at the Emory Children’s Center Building located next door to Egleston.

Egleston Hospital

1450 Clifton Road NE

Atlanta, GA 30322

Emory Children's Center Building

2015 Uppergate Drive

Atlanta, GA 30322

Transplantation is not just one event. At Children’s, we provide our patients and their families with the support they need during every phase of treatment, from organ failure to transplant and post-transplant care. We offer dedicated support groups for transplant patients, family advisory groups and patient camps, in addition to a dedicated teen clinic that helps prepare teens for the transition to adult care.

Camps

• Second Chance Family Camp: This weekend camp allows transplant recipients, candidates and their immediate family members to enjoy camp activities with others who share similar experiences.
• Camp Braveheart: This weeklong summer camp experience is for children and teens, ages 7 to 17, who have a heart defect or have received a heart transplant.
• Camp Independence: This weeklong summer camp experience is for children and teens, ages 8 to 18, who have been diagnosed with kidney disease, are on dialysis or have received an organ transplant.
• Second Chance Teen Retreat: This overnight weekend getaway is for teens and young adults, ages 13 to 20, who have received an organ transplant.

Events and Support Groups

• Transplant events: Annual events for the entire family are typically held at a fun, local venue. Invitations with event details will be sent to transplant recipients and candidates prior to the event.
• Transplant support groups: Support groups are offered at the Egleston campus throughout the year so transplant families can connect with other families on a similar journey, receive support and learn about the Children’s Second Chance Program. Invitations with event details will be emailed and posted on the inpatient unit prior to the scheduled groups.
• Online Support: We invite parents and guardians of patients awaiting transplant and those who have received a transplant to join our private Facebook group, “Transplant Families at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.” The page is monitored by group administrators and provides ways to virtually connect with the transplant community.

Donations

• Donations designated for our Transplant Program make it possible to offer additional comfort to our transplant families. Ongoing needs include food items for our Transplant Stepdown Food Pantry, toiletries, toys and craft supplies.

Email secondchance@choa.org or call 404-785-1822 for more information about donations designated for our Transplant Program or support opportunities.