Lee Memorial suspends live donor kidney transplant program

Published: Updated:

LEE COUNTY, Fla.- After an organ donation went wrong in Lee County, others waiting for life-saving help, will have to wait even longer.

Lee Memorial Health System shut down its live donor kidney transplant program, leaving dozens of people in limbo waiting for help.

“There is a risk when you receive or donate organs and it’s a risk we all take to save other people’s life,” said Claudia Ciocca.

The donor’s death is under investigation but people in desperate need will now have to wait longer.

“We save more lives than we lose, we never know what’s going to happen or what complications is going to be,” said Ciocca.

After the live donations were stopped, 21-year-old Jimmy Serrago’s kidney transplant surgery was cancelled two days before his surgery. He had been on the waiting list for 3 1/2 years.

“I think it’s horrible. I think I’m sure he is devastated, his family is devastated,” said Ciocca.

In a statement to WINK News, the hospital says:

“We are working to review our transplant related procedures and protocols to determine when the program will reopen.”

“I feel that now they shut down the program, people that are waiting on organs that were scheduled to have it done , they may not last until they reopen the program and finish the investigation. It’s not fair.”

Ciocca says all donors, living or deceased are heroes. Her 16-year-old daughter was killed in a golf cart accident last September, her organs saved three lives.

“When the time came I knew exactly what to do and it felt good.”

Twenty-five patients are on the live donor transplant waiting list, according to hospital staff. The deceased donor transplant program is still operating.

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