Fifteen Years and Counting: How a Kidney Transplant from the Miami Transplant Institute Saved Young Boy’s Life

By: Krysten Brenlla

When Chase Cooper, 20, was just 2 years old, he was diagnosed with a congenital kidney and urinary tract condition. One of his kidneys was filled with cysts – a condition called multicystic dysplastic kidney.

Additionally, the other kidney had a blockage where the ureter, a thin tube that carries urine from each kidney to the bladder, didn’t develop normally.

“My family knew from the minute I was born that I would have problems with my kidneys,” Cooper said. “They knew that I’d eventually need a transplant.”

To find the best treatment options, his family sought care at the Miami Transplant Institute (MTI), an affiliation between Jackson Health System and UHealth – University of Miami Health System.

After an extensive evaluation, the multidisciplinary team found that Cooper was eligible for a kidney transplant, and he was placed on the list.

For 10 months, he received at-home peritoneal dialysis. However, on a Wednesday evening in 2010, Cooper’s family got the call they longed for – there was a match.

Five-year-old Cooper and his loved ones rushed to Jackson Memorial Hospital, where he underwent his kidney transplant, performed by Gaetano Ciancio, MD, chief medical officer and director of the kidney and kidney-pancreas transplant programs at MTI.

The surgery marked the beginning of a new chapter, but it was far from the end of Cooper’s medical journey.

“Even if someone has a healthy kidney after transplant, the medical process doesn’t stop,” he said. “Taking care of it is one thing, but sustaining it for 15 to 20 years is the real challenge.”

However, despite the obstacles throughout his life, the team at MTI has been Cooper’s guiding force.

“Chase’s case is remarkable – many pediatric transplant recipients require multiple transplants over the years, yet Chase’s kidney has lasted an impressive 15 years,” said Marissa Defreitas, MD, a pediatric nephrologist at MTI. “However, the challenges extend beyond the kidney itself. As a side effect of the anti-rejection medications, Chase developed diabetes, along with gastrointestinal complications.

Despite these hurdles, he continues to push forward with the unwavering support of his family and the team at Jackson and MTI.”

As he grew older, Cooper began to advocate about the urgent need for organ donors, speaking at school events and debate tournaments. Throughout his kidney transplant journey, he also developed a passion for encouraging young people to register as organ donors.

“I think every day about the people on the transplant list who need an organ – just like I needed a kidney,” Cooper said. “It’s a tremendous gift – I wouldn’t know where I’d be if I didn’t get that kidney. That’s what Jackson does best – they give people another opportunity to live life to the fullest.”

Now a political science major at Lynn University, Cooper’s committed to making a difference. He hopes to continue advocating for organ donation through community efforts and speaking engagements.

“During Donate Life Month in April, I tell people – check the box. You can save eight lives in one day,” Cooper said. “We need more people who are willing to donate because too many people are waiting for their second chance.”