UVA Transplant

05/29/2026

🏓 D**k. Rally. Repeat.

The transplant team knows a thing or two about working together under pressure. This week, that pressure came in the form of match point.

Congratulations to Matt and Ben, champions of our 1st Annual Transplant Team Pickleball Tournament!

Their reward? A trophy, bragging rights, and at least a year of reminding the rest of us about it… 💚 🏆 💙

05/14/2026

Healing comes in many forms… sometimes with tiny hooves and floppy ears. 🐐💙

A little goat therapy brought big smiles to our transplant team today — a reminder that moments of joy, connection, and laughter matter just as much along the journey of care.

Just a few minutes with baby goats can brighten an entire day. ✨

05/13/2026

Every great innovation deserves a name worthy of its impact.

Introducing PrometheOX — the new nickname for our OrganOX metra device and the first member of the Titan Fleet at UVA Transplant.

Inspired by Prometheus, the titan known for bringing fire to humanity, PrometheOX represents innovation, endurance, preservation, and hope — advancing the future of transplantation and extending what’s possible for patients and families.

Because the work happening here already feels a little legendary.

05/10/2026

Some heroes wear badges. Others give the gift of life — twice. 💙

After seeing a story about a firefighter in need of a kidney transplant, Tommy Obenrader stepped forward to help. When he later learned he could also become a living liver donor for a child, he turned to UVA Health — home to Virginia’s only pediatric liver transplant program.

Today, Tommy is back on duty as a police officer, continuing to advocate for organ donation and proving the impact one person can make.

Read Tommy’s incredible story:
(https://ow.ly/F2gY50YVJai)

When Tommy learned a fellow first responder needed a kidney donation, he stepped up. And when he learned he could also donate his liver, he didn't hesitate. Tommy hoped to inspire others to become living organ donors.

05/03/2026

After 200+ submissions, we’ve narrowed it to 10 standout nicknames for our OrganOx machine. Now it’s up to you to help decide the final 3.

This isn’t just a name—it’s how we tell the story of innovation, second chances, and the lives changed every day.

Drop your top three in the comments or send us a message. 💙💚

05/01/2026

💙💚

04/29/2026

Benched the busy for nine innings ⚾️

No huddles, no handoffs—just a reset and bringing home a W.

04/27/2026

Every transplant story is unique—but some remind us just how powerful connection, generosity, and innovation can be.

The Childers family’s journey is a beautiful example of how living donation and paired kidney exchange can turn hope into reality. When a direct match isn’t possible, programs like this create new pathways—connecting donors and recipients in ways that make life-saving transplants possible.

At UVA Health, stories like this highlight what’s possible when compassion meets cutting-edge care.

Read their story and see how one family’s gift created a ripple effect of life:
https://ow.ly/4L2l50YQNtm

When it became clear that both children would need kidney transplants to survive, Mark and Mary Beth Childers didn't hesitate to donate. See their story of matching living kidney donations and transplants at UVA Health

04/25/2026

We’re excited to launch a fun and creative opportunity for our transplant community to help name OrganOx—an innovative liver preservation device transforming transplantation.

Big ideas, small ideas, and everything in between every voice matters. We’d love to hear from all ages patients, families, staff, and community members to help find a name that captures the heart, impact, and life-saving magic behind this technology.

A story sparked by this innovation turns organ donation into a meaningful, kid-friendly adventure: The Little Engine That Kept It Flowing. https://ow.ly/F3O850YPauo

Let the naming fun begin.

Comment below or send a DM by 5 PM on April 29.

What happens next:
• Finalists will be selected from all submissions
• A voting round will determine the top contenders
• The winning name will be announced and celebrated

04/24/2026

Thirty-six years of connection, strength, and showing up for one another. 💙🎉💚

The UVA Health Heart and Lung Transplant Support Group is proud to celebrate 36 years of continuous meetings—a powerful reminder that no one has to navigate the transplant journey alone.

Behind every meeting is a community of patients, caregivers, and clinicians who understand the challenges, celebrate the milestones, and lift each other through it all.

Looking for support?
We offer transplant support groups for both abdominal and heart & lung patients. Ask your transplant social worker for details and how to get connected.

Because together, we go further.

04/23/2026

It’s Medical Laboratory Professionals Week 🧪💙

Long before a transplant happens, the work begins in the lab. Every test, every result, every detail matters.

To our HLA Lab team—thank you for the precision, dedication, and expertise you bring to the data that helps make life-saving transplants possible.