US media reported on 21/5, citing an announcement from the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), that the surgery took place in January at the University of Chicago Medical Center. Patient Jasmine Jones set a record as the 6th person nationwide and the first in Illinois to receive such a large number of organs in a single operation.

The medical team performed the complex surgery over 36 hours. Thoracic surgeon Doctor Pablo Sanchez began by removing two failing lungs, rinsing the chest cavity with potent antibiotics, and then implanting the new lungs. Immediately after, Doctor Rolf Barth transplanted the liver, which specialized machinery had continuously pumped with warm, oxygen-rich blood to sustain it.

Jasmine Jones is "forever grateful" for the surgery that transplanted 4 healthy organs from a single donor. *Photo: Jordan Porter-Woodruff*

The surgical team decided to temporarily close the abdomen and transfer the patient to the intensive care unit for one day of rest. The next day, Doctor Ashley Suah completed the major surgery by successfully transplanting the kidney. Doctor Sanchez explained that replacing all damaged organs simultaneously offers the patient the best chance for long-term survival. Medical professionals also noted that Jones demonstrated immense vitality and resilience in overcoming the enormous pressure of the operation.

The patient's multi-organ failure stemmed from cystic fibrosis, which developed when she was 5 years old. Medical experts define this genetic disease as causing the body to produce thick, sticky fluid, leading to blockages and damage in the lungs, pancreas, and digestive system. By college age, cystic fibrosis caused her to develop diabetes. Nearly a year prior, her kidney function had declined to just 10%, necessitating urgent organ transplantation.

Jones spent 6 weeks recovering after the historic surgery. She currently takes immunosuppressant medication regularly to prevent her body from rejecting the new organs and diligently undergoes physical therapy. The medical team continues to closely monitor her pancreas for timely intervention if replacement becomes necessary. The 28-year-old patient expressed deep gratitude to the organ donor and shared her eagerness to return to her childcare work, feeling fully in control of her life.

Binh Minh (According to People, UChicago Medicine)