Lexington, Kentucky (April 21, 2025) – Last November, 11-year-old Sera Davis of Nicholasville received a gift that will change her life forever.
“She's doing great things,” said Sera's mom Hari. “She earned 25 pounds and grew nearly two inches. She's always so pretty and full of life, but now she looks so different and healthy. That's amazing.”
Serra is recovering well, but she has had a long journey to get there.
According to Stefan G. Kiessling, MD. Pediatric nephrologist and medical director of kidney transplantation Kentucky Children's Hospital (KCH) Because of serum treatment since birth, serum kidney failure was a result of interrupted oxygenation to the kidneys, brain and other organs during complex delivery. Prolonged deprivation of oxygenated blood to the serum kidneys resulted in irreparable tissue damage. From the day she was born, Serra has been on and off dialysis, a stop gap measure to maintain renal function while she is growing.
Damaged kidneys are unable to keep up with the child's development. This is exactly what happened to the serum. As she grew, her kidney function declined, eventually leading to the point where the kidneys needed dialysis again or a kidney transplant as a preferred therapy. Hari was able to see that despite interventions such as drug use and special dietary use, serum energy was low and frequent breaks were required to spend the day with friends and naps. Hari noticed that Sera couldn't drink enough water and swallowed the glass after the glass, realizing she was thirsty. And despite eating more food than her father, Serra was unable to gain weight. Kidney transplantation is a form of treatment and not a treatment for kidney disease, so optimal timing is important.
“We were watching her give up,” her mom recalled. “Even her teacher, who had known her for years, saw it. The sparks just disappeared.”
Serum renal function decreased to just 21%. The damaged organs could no longer support her growing body. Hari always knew that kidney transplants were in the future of serum. in UK Healthcare Transplant Centresthe search started for the right donor.
Serum required good match for successful transplantation. Kidney transplants, especially in children, are always preferred as transplants that have been transplanted long-lasting and children should receive kidneys from adult donors if possible. The entire family underwent a large matching and evaluation process, but were not suitable donors for Serra. The family turns to the wider community and through a combination of social media outreach and word of mouth, Serra's story reaches a young man named Alex Rogers. Alex works for the same railroad company as Serra's father and learns about searching for Davis by mutual acquaintances. After seeing his mother undergo two kidney transplants, he knew exactly what the serum was going through. Impressed by her journey, he moved forward.
As surgery approached, there were concerns about how serum would handle it, but those concerns were unfounded. Since the age of four, Sera knew her condition and understood that she might need a transplant one day. She and her parents watched the video and knew they could rely on Kisling and his colleagues while talking and preparing with other transplant patients. Aftab S. Chishti, MD, Lead them throughout the entire journey.
“She was ready,” Hari said. “She wasn't scared.”
On November 7th, 2024, Serra and Alex walked hand in hand. Albert B. Chandler Hospital, UK Healthcare. It is performed after surgery Alexander P. Ancheta, Maryland; Serra initially experienced some discomfort, but as the days passed, she felt like herself.
“I was able to see it as soon as she woke up from the transplant,” Hari said. “She was crying because she was in pain, but her colour and everything was so beautiful. I hated seeing her screams, but in my mom's mind I thought, 'She looks so good'. ”
Postoperative transplant recipients are recommended to wake up as part of their recovery and roam the inpatient's bed. Serra was running on the lap. The doctor was hoping to be hospitalized for 10 days, but she was discharged after just six days.
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When Serra returned home, Alex's mother, who had been going through the transplant process twice, became a source of support and guidance for her recovery family. The two families stayed in touch and celebrated Serra's progress and the success of both the donor and recipient in recovery.
On April 9, 2025, five months after the surgery, Serra and Alex were reunited in a British softball game. Part of the monthly donation celebration to honor those who were impressed by organ donation; Serra had the honor of throwing the first pitch. Alex kneels behind the home plate with his gloves and is ready to catch. Even after her transplant, he continues to support her and watches her flourish.
To ensure her health is stable and to minimize the risk of infection, Serra is homeschooled for the rest of her grade. All traces of fatigue and brain fog are gone. Serra is thriving both academically and socially.
“Sera has handled this for the rest of her life, but there have been a lot of restrictions and things she couldn't do,” Hari said. “Now there is a whole world of possibilities.”
Davises can plan travel that doesn't revolve around dialysis or hospital stays. Serra is most excited to travel to Florida, visit his grandparents and swim in the pool, especially when they open for summer.
Dr. Kiessling says that Sera has to take medication for the rest of her life and avoid high-risk activities such as contact sports, but now there are opportunities she has never seen before.
“Sera and the new beans are doing well,” he said.
During Serra's first decade, kidney disease slowly creeps up, gradually stealing her strength, smile, and ultimately her spirit. The transplant not only saved her life, but it returned it to her.
“It was like watching her come back to life. Her light has returned,” Hari said. “To have a sparkback and a passion for life is so much fun to watch her grow.”
Thanks to the incredible generosity of strangers, the care of the professionals of her medical team, and the love of her devoted family, Serra is ready to go for the next one.
April 20th-26th is National Pediatric Transplant Week, part of Donation Life Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about the power and importance of organ, eye and tissue donation. Over 2,100 children are on the national transplant waiting list. Please see details about organ donation. Please register to be an organ donor.
