transplant services
Chase
Diagnosed at age 2,
cystic fibrosis

14-year-old Texas Children’s Hospital patient recovering well at first anniversary of rare multi-organ transplant surgery

Fourteen-year-old Chase McGowen of Austin, the first patient in Texas to undergo a double lung-liver transplant is progressing well after the surgery which was performed at Texas Children's Hospital in early 2004. Chase, who has cystic fibrosis, is one of fewer than 20 people in the world to have the transplant.

“Chase has had an awesome year,” said his mother, Carol. “While it has been a bit harrowing at times, he is doing as well as anyone could expect at this point. We’re thrilled to say that he is a normal, obstinate, stinky teenager.”

After a year of post-operative treatments, one hospitalization for stomach surgery to control gastroesophageal reflux disease and missing two months of school, Chase was able to ring in 2005 with friends at a church campout, a first for him and his family. Now back in school, Chase takes a number of medications and follows a nutritional program that provides 4,000 calories a day.

“Although Chase has a new healthy liver and lungs, he still has the gastrointestinal system of a cystic fibrosis patient,” said Carol. “He is quite underweight, and he needs increased nutritional values to boost his system.”

Dr. George Mallory, chief of the Texas Children's Pediatric Lung Transplant Program, also is optimistic about Chase’s condition.

“So few patients have had double-lung and liver transplants that it is hard to say how well Chase is doing compared to others,” said Mallory. “But we are very, very pleased. His new organs are working well, and the new liver seems to be supporting his gains from the new lungs. He is growing and maturing like a typical teen. We’re thankful that our worst problems are trying to get him to gain weight and listen to his parents.”

Mallory went on to say he hopes to see Chase attend college and live many years beyond.

“Thanks to Dr. Mallory and Dr. Saul Karpen, the Texas Children’s physicians who monitor his lungs and liver, we have tremendous peace of mind that everything is going to turn out all right for Chase,” said Carol.