IU Health Transplant

01/08/2026

When a mother needed a kidney, her daughter responded.

01/08/2026

Two transplants and this baker is advocating for others

Kevinna Walker was 6 months old when her kidneys failed due to dysplasia, abnormal growth or cells. In 1984, she required peritoneal administered at IU Health Riley Hospital for Children.

To help care for her daughter, Walker’s mom, Betty Reese became a dialysis technician. Together, they faced kidney disease.

“I had a great team at IU Health,” said Walker, mentioning pediatric nephrologists Dr. Jerry Bergstein, Dr. Sharon P. Andreoli, and Dr. Muhammad Yaquad. She also offered thanks to her transplant coordinators Kim Lippelt and Mary Lynn Subrin. On December 18, 1987, Walker received her first kidney transplant.

“I went on to a normal life with lifetime medications transplant appointments, and labs,” said Walker, 41. In 2007 she had her first son, “AJ.” She experienced the loss of a second child, a girl, in 2011. “Shortly after her passing I was back on dialysis, when my mother trained me to know everything about the dialysis machine, what to look for, how to better educate myself on certain foods, and fluid intake,” said Walker.

While she continued life, she waited for a second transplant.

During that time, she raised her son and attended the Chef’s Academy, a culinary division of Harrison College. Walker’s passion was baking and she worked for several Indianapolis restaurants including Cake Bake and The Gallery Pastry Shop.

On Oct. 13, 2023, Walker received a second kidney transplant in the care of Dr. William Goggins.

As she continues her labs every month and appointments every four months, Wallace said she’s doing great.

“I’m looking forward to doing anything I want,” said Wallace. “I want to write a book about my experience and become more involved advocating for transplant.”

-Photo by Mike Dickbernd, Visual Journalist, mdickbernd@iuhealth.org
-By TJ Banes, IU Health Senior Journalist, tfender1@iuhealth.org

12/24/2025

12/23/2025

Transplant nurse retires after three decades of service

Friends and collogues recently gathered to wish long-time nurse Kristy Williams the best on her retirement.

“I will miss my co-workers the most. I have a fantastic group of nurses, administration staff and medical assistants that I have worked with throughout my entire career,” said Williams. “I will also miss working with my dedicated transplant doctors and surgeons.”

Some of those doctors and surgeons posed with Williams for a photo. Those include Dr. Andy Lutz, Kidney Transplant Surgeon, Dr. Muhammad Yaqub, transplant nephrologist; Dr. William Goggins, kidney transplant surgeon and IU Health Kidney Transplant Surgical Director; Dr. Muhammad Jan, kidney transplant nephrologist, Dr. Asif Sharfuddin, kidney transplant nephrologist and IU Health Kidney Transplant Medical Director.

Williams, started with IU Health in October 1996 and worked as a nurse in medical surgery for 11 years, in liver transplant for five years and as a kidney transplant coordinator for the past 14 years.

She said she pursued a career in nursing because she has a passion for helping others.

In retirement she plans to travel and golf. She enjoys physical activities such as walking and biking.

-By TJ Banes, IU Health Senior Journalist, tfender1@iuhealth.or go

12/19/2025

As two men recover from lung transplants, their hearts are filled with gratitude.

12/10/2025

There are many things that connect these two sisters. Now, they’re connected by the gift of life.

12/09/2025

12/05/2025

On Sept. 6th Melanie Turner received her greatest birthday present – a multi-visceral transplant. Turner had waited three years to receive a small intestine and a pancreas. She received them during an 11-hour transplant surgery on her birthday. Turner had to wait for so long because her blood type is AB+, which is only present in about four percent of the population. This meant that her donor’s blood type must also be AB+. Turner was an inpatient for a month following her surgery. She returned to University Hospital Tuesday and was able to go home today. She has many interests including playing the guitar, singing, being a songwriter and creating pots in her pottery studio. But she looks most forward to being able to stay active while performing water aerobics again.

11/25/2025

They were both teachers; they are both devoted to their families; but otherwise, these two women were strangers until they connected through a single kidney.

11/20/2025

Last week, we had the honor of celebrating three leaders from our IU Health transplant program. Drs. Marco Lacerda, Jonathan Fridell and Chandrashekhar Kubal (left to right) were recognized for outstanding accomplishments and distinguished service to the State of Indiana and beyond. Dr. Kubal, surgical director of our liver transplant program, received the prestigious Sagamore of the Wabash Award, one of Indiana’s highest honors, recognizing his exceptional contributions. Dr. Fridell, chief of abdominal transplant surgery, and Dr. Lacerda, medical director of the liver transplant program, were named Distinguished Hoosiers, another major recognition awarded by the Governor for excellence. These honors reflect their dedication, leadership and impact in advancing transplant care to save lives. Congratulations to all three for this well-deserved recognition!

iuhealth.org/transplant

11/14/2025

A transplant gives Breyman Browning the chance to go to school, make friends and be a big brother.