Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Features Story of Lifesaving Liver Transplant Performed by UPMC Surgeons
Less than a year ago, 31-year-old Christina Mazza learned that she had hereditary amyloidosis, a disease causing a build-up of proteins in her organs. After learning that a liver transplant was the best option to save her life, her sister Lisa Mazza volunteered to donate a portion of her own liver to Christina.
On Jan. 15, two teams of surgeons led by Dr. Abhi Humar, UPMC transplant chief, and Dr. Michael de Vera, co-director of liver transplantation at UPMC, performed the living-donor liver transplant that saved Christina’s life. Dr. Humar led the team who removed approximately half of Lisa’s liver. Then, a team of surgeons led by Dr. de Vera transplanted that portion into Christina.
Today, both Christina and Lisa are recovering and their livers will regenerate to their normal size in about six to eight weeks.