Maine girl bouncing back after 6-organ transplant

The Journal Gazette, 600 W. Main St., Fort Wayne IN

70°

Local weather

National Weather Service

Mobile |

RSS

Search archive

You choose, we deliver

If you are interested in this story, you might be interested in others from The Journal Gazette. Go to www.journalgazette.net/newsletter and pick the subjects you care most about. We'll deliver your customized daily news report at 3 a.m. Fort Wayne time, right to your email.

National

Fallen Marine’s letter marks Memorial Day in Kabul
KABUL, Afghanistan – The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan has observed Memorial Day by reading a letter written by an American soldier to his family before he died this year. Gen.Today 4:37 am
Concert on National Mall shut down by thunder
WASHINGTON — The National Memorial Day Concert has been canceled due to a line of thunderstorms that moved into the District of Columbia on Sunday night.Today 3:56 am
High court racing to biggest rulings
One never knows when the Supreme Court will hand down its last, often biggest, opinions of the term.Today 3:00 am

Associated Press

Alannah Shevenell, 9, and her grandmother, Debi Skolas, speak to a reporter at their home in Hollis, Maine, on Thursday. Alannah returned home Wednesday afternoon, three months after receiving six new organs in a groundbreaking operation. Doctors at Children’s Hospital Boston replaced Alannah Shevenell’s stomach, liver, spleen, small intestine, pancreas and a portion of her esophagus in October. It’s believed to be the first-ever transplant of an esophagus and the largest number of organs transplanted at one time in New England.

Last updated: February 3, 2012 3:50 a.m.

Maine girl bouncing back after 6-organ transplant

CLARKE CANFIELD | Associated Press

HOLLIS, Maine — A 9-year-old Maine girl is home after undergoing a transplant of six organs to remove a tumor that was spreading throughout her abdomen.

Doctors at Children's Hospital Boston replaced Alannah Shevenell's stomach, liver, spleen, small intestine, pancreas and a portion of her esophagus in October.

It's believed to be the first-ever transplant of an esophagus and the largest number of organs transplanted at one time in New England.

The surgery was necessary to remove a massive and rare cancerous tumor that was overtaking her organs and closing in on her heart.

The spunky, bright-eyed girl returned Wednesday to her home in Hollis and is enjoying sledding and her scrapbooks.