The Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital recently achieved a remarkable milestone with its 300th kidney transplant, quickly followed by two additional successful procedures. All three young patients are now returning home with renewed hope and a chance at healthier lives.
This achievement marks a significant chapter in the history of the renowned paediatric hospital, which has been a leading centre for child health in South Africa since opening its doors in 1956. The hospital’s journey in renal transplantation began in 1968 with its first such procedure.
Seventeen-year-old Cee-Jay Zimmerie, who received the milestone 300th transplant, expressed profound relief following his surgery. “I feel so much relief. I was nervous before the operation,” he shared. “I was also shocked initially when I became sick without warning. I had to mentally prepare myself for surgery last week, and I am very happy it went well.”
Throughout Cee-Jay’s medical journey, his mother Alicia has remained steadfastly by his side. She vividly recalls the day her son, then just 14 years old, was diagnosed with end-stage kidney disease at Groote Schuur Hospital. “We were told he would need a transplant and started visiting Red Cross. We’re grateful for all of the support from the healthcare workers,” she recounted.
Professor Mignon McCulloch, Head of the Clinical Unit of Paediatric Nephrology and Solid Organ Transplantation, conveyed her elation following the recent transplants. “We are absolutely delighted to have celebrated our 300th, 301st and 302nd kidney transplants in the last week,” she said. “We are enormously grateful to the families of the donors who have donated their family members’ organs. We are very grateful, as are our paediatric patients and their parents, for giving them a new lease of life and getting them off dialysis.”
We are enormously grateful to the families of the donors who have donated their family members’ organs
Professor McCulloch emphasised that such medical achievements are only possible through exceptional teamwork. “We are also grateful for our wonderful teams at Red Cross and Groote Schuur, including surgeons, paediatricians, dieticians, social workers, nurses, intensivists, anaesthetists, managers and many others. It really does take a team for successful transplantation in children.”
The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness has celebrated this milestone while highlighting the critical importance of organ donation. For children like Cee-Jay, organ transplants offer a second chance at life and the opportunity to enjoy childhood with family and friends.
The Gift of Life: How to Become an Organ Donor
Organ and tissue donation can profoundly impact numerous lives. Solid organs such as the heart, liver, pancreas, and lungs, as well as tissues including corneas, skin, bone, tendons, and heart valves, can all be donated. A single tissue donor can help as many as 50 people.
Those wishing to become organ donors can register with the Organ Donation Foundation of South Africa through their toll-free line at 0800 22 66 11 or by visiting https://odf.org.za. After registration, donors receive a card to carry, along with stickers for identification documents and driver’s licences.
For potential bone marrow donors, the South African Bone Marrow Registry offers simple registration at www.sabmr.co.za.
Medical experts emphasise the importance of discussing organ donation wishes with family members, as their consent will ultimately be required even if one has registered as a donor. There are no costs associated with donation, and families bear no responsibility for related medical expenses.
