Latest news with #PennMedicine
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
A mom donated her uterus to help another woman carry a baby—now they've met the child they made possible
When Emma Dolzal finally cradled her newborn daughter, Olivia, in her arms, her joy was matched by something even more profound—across from her sat Sara Leister, the woman whose selfless gift made that moment possible. Sara had donated her uterus so that Emma, who was born without one, could experience pregnancy. And now, for the first time, they were meeting face to face—with Olivia nestled between them. Their story opens a window into a rarely seen side of motherhood. It's about bold medical innovation, the quiet strength of women who've been told 'no,' and the life-changing impact of one woman lifting another up in the most intimate way imaginable. Emma Dolzal spent most of her life believing she would never carry a child. Born without a uterus due to a rare condition called MRKH syndrome, she had long grieved a version of motherhood that felt forever out of reach. Then she heard about a clinical trial at Penn Medicine offering uterine transplants—something that once seemed like science fiction. She applied. She hoped. And eventually, she became pregnant. But behind that miracle was another mother: Sara Leister, a 40-year-old nurse and mom of two, who had seen a news segment about uterine transplants and felt an immediate pull. Her own family was complete, but the thought that her uterus could help another woman experience pregnancy stayed with her. So she stepped forward, volunteered, and gave away the organ that had once carried her children. Their lives—once completely separate—were now intertwined in the most intimate way possible. Emma was able to carry and deliver a baby girl, Olivia, thanks to Sara's gift. And when the two women finally met for the first time, holding the baby they had both made possible, the gratitude between them was unmistakable. Related: First baby born after successful uterus transplant in America When Emma and Sara finally met in person, it wasn't in a hospital or a clinical setting. It was a room filled with emotion, with baby Olivia, wide-eyed and unaware of the miracle she represents, nestled between them. They smiled through tears, hugged like old friends, and marveled at the child who connected their lives in such an unexpected, profound way. Olivia arrived thanks to medicine, yes—but also because of trust, timing, and a generosity beyond what most of us ever experience. There was no need for big speeches. Just gratitude. Emma looked at Sara and saw the person who made it all possible. Sara looked at Olivia and saw the child she somehow always believed would come from her gift. 'I'm just so happy right now,' Emma told WGAL8, holding back tears.'To see her… it's just beautiful.' For a long time, Emma wasn't sure this day would ever come. And for Sara, this moment affirmed everything she had hoped her donation would mean. Related: A womb transplant between sisters led to this history-making birth—and new hope for families everywhere Until recently, women born without a uterus had few options if they wanted to become parents. Adoption, surrogacy, and gestational carriers were paths forward—but carrying their own child wasn't one of them. That's starting to change. Uterine transplant is a new and evolving medical procedure that offers hope to women with uterine factor infertility (UFI)—a condition that affects around 1 in every 500 women. The surgery involves transplanting a healthy uterus into a recipient who does not have one, followed by IVF and, if successful, a full-term pregnancy. Penn Medicine is one of the few places in the country leading this breakthrough. As of now, eight babies—including Olivia—have been born through its program. And after years in clinical trial, the procedure is now available to qualifying patients outside of the research phase. Still, it's not an easy road. The process involves complex surgeries, hormone therapy, IVF cycles, and careful monitoring. Costs are high, and not all insurance plans cover the procedure—though that's slowly beginning to change as awareness grows. What was once unimaginable is now a real, if challenging, option. And with each successful birth, the medical world moves one step closer to making it more accessible. Sara's gift went beyond the physical; she offered someone the chance at a new beginning. Her decision to donate her uterus came after her own years of motherhood were complete. But for Emma, that gift meant the chance to carry a child, feel the kicks, go through labor, and finally hold her baby in her arms. It's not a kind of donation people talk about often. Blood, kidneys, bone marrow—those are more familiar. But uterus donation? It's a quieter, less understood act of generosity that sits at the intersection of medicine, motherhood, and meaning. Sara's story opens a door—for Emma, and for other women who may now see uterus donation as a way to give back. It's a form of reproductive solidarity that speaks to something deeply maternal: the instinct to nurture, even if it's for someone else's child. 'I will tell [Olivia] that Sara made this possible for us,' Emma told WGAL8, 'That's one of the first things I'll tell her.' Their story is rare, yes—but it doesn't have to be. With growing awareness, more donors may come forward. And more women who've been told 'you'll never carry' may finally get to hear 'yes, you can.' Related: A woman born without a uterus just gave birth Emma and Sara's journey is personal, but its impact reaches far beyond their lives. For every woman born without a uterus—or who lost hers to illness or surgery—this story signals something powerful: the path to motherhood is evolving. Uterine transplant is still new. It's still complicated. But it exists. And for many, just knowing this option is real can spark hope where there once was none. It gives language to a kind of grief many women carry silently, and a possibility they may never have imagined. It also challenges our idea of what motherhood looks like. One woman carried the baby. One woman made that possible. Both are mothers in every sense of the word. This story expands what family, identity, and connection can mean—through science, through compassion, and through a belief in what's possible when women support one another in the most literal way. There's something deeply sisterly about it all. Two moms, connected by biology and bravery, each with their own role in a child's beginning. Every pregnancy has a story behind it—but few are quite like this. A woman gave her uterus to a stranger. That stranger carried a baby who will grow up knowing she was born from two kinds of love. These stories deserve to be heard—for their power, and for the possibilities they unlock. They introduce new options. They remind us that motherhood doesn't always follow a straight path. If this story moved you, ask yourself: Would you ever consider donating your uterus once your family is complete? Should insurance companies be covering procedures like this? What does it mean to expand the definition of motherhood in our lifetime? There are no right or wrong answers. Just the hope that stories like Emma and Sara's will spark more conversations—and maybe even more miracles. Olivia won't remember the day her two moms met. But one day, she'll hear the story—how one woman gave, another carried, and both believed in something bigger than themselves. And maybe, when she grows up, this kind of birth won't feel rare. Maybe it will just feel like one of the many ways families are formed, with love and courage at the center. For now, she is a living reminder of what's possible—when science catches up to hope, and when women show up for each other in extraordinary ways.
Globe and Mail
02-07-2025
- Health
- Globe and Mail
Dr. Andre Posner Featured in In-Depth Online Interview Highlighting His Legacy in Medicine and Medical Education
Dr. Andre Posner, a respected hospitalist, acclaimed medical educator, and lifelong advocate for human-centered healthcare, has been prominently featured in a newly published in-depth interview. The article offers a rare and compelling look into Dr. Posner's personal journey, medical philosophy, and enduring impact on the next generation of physicians. The feature explores topics ranging from his upbringing in a multigenerational home in Merion Station, Pennsylvania, to the profound influence of his father's work eradicating smallpox in Africa during his early years in Dakar, Senegal. It also delves into his teaching style, the evolving landscape of healthcare, and the importance of mindfulness, strategic thinking, and empathy in both medicine and life. In the interview, Dr. Posner shares deeply personal reflections and hard-earned wisdom gained from decades of clinical practice at institutions including Frankford Hospital, Main Line Health, and Penn Medicine. Readers will gain insight into the values that guide his work: trust, clarity, adaptability, and presence. 'This was an opportunity to speak not just as a doctor, but as a human being shaped by patients, mentors, and life itself,' said Dr. Posner. 'I'm grateful to share my story and, hopefully, inspire others in the field to lead with empathy and intention.' Dr. Posner's feature is part of a broader effort to spotlight voices in medicine who are making a difference not only through clinical excellence but also through education, mentorship, and compassion. To read the full article, visit the website here. About Dr. Andre Posner: Dr. Andre Posner is an award-winning physician and educator known for his commitment to patient care and medical mentorship. With over two decades of hospitalist experience and numerous teaching honors—including the D. Stratton Woodruff Award and Faculty Award for Resident Teaching—Dr. Posner continues to be a guiding force in medicine. He is currently affiliated with Penn Medicine and remains active in both clinical practice and medical education. Media Contact Contact Person: Andre Posner Email: Send Email City: Philadelphia State: Pennsylvania Country: United States Website:
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
RPI's Jacob Lee Signs in Switzerland
Swiss man returns to Philadelphia hospital after life-changing double hand transplant 29-year-old Luka Krizanac from Switzerland received a double hand transplant at Penn Medicine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in late 2024, 17 years after losing his hands and feet to an infection that turned into sepsis. Luka visited the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania again this June and says the miracle surgery has changed his and his family's life. 1:25 Now Playing Paused Ad Playing
Perth Now
19-06-2025
- Health
- Perth Now
US Court upholds ban on gender-affirming care for kids
A ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors in the state of Tennessee has been upheld by the US Supreme Court, in a setback to transgender rights. The justices' 6-3 decision effectively protects from legal challenges many efforts by President Donald Trump's administration and state governments to roll back protections for transgender people. Another 26 states have laws similar to Tennessee's. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for a conservative majority that the law banning puberty blockers and hormone treatments for trans minors doesn't violate the Constitution's equal protection clause, which requires the government to treat similarly situated people the same. "This case carries with it the weight of fierce scientific and policy debates about the safety, efficacy, and propriety of medical treatments in an evolving field. The voices in these debates raise sincere concerns; the implications for all are profound," Roberts wrote. "The Equal Protection Clause does not resolve these disagreements. Nor does it afford us license to decide them as we see best." The court's three liberal justices dissented from the ruling, among them Justice Sonia Sotomayor who wrote, "By retreating from meaningful judicial review exactly where it matters most, the court abandons transgender children and their families to political whims. In sadness, I dissent." The law also limits parents' decision-making ability for their children's health care, she wrote. The decision comes amid other federal and state efforts to regulate the lives of transgender people, including which sports competitions they can join and which bathrooms they can use. In April, Trump's administration sued Maine for not complying with the government's push to ban transgender athletes in girls sports. And the Supreme Court has allowed him to kick transgender service members out of the military, even as court fights continue. The president signed another order to define the sexes as only male and female. Several states where gender-affirming care remains in place have adopted laws or state executive orders seeking to protect it. But since Trump's executive order, some providers have ceased some treatments. For instance, Penn Medicine in Philadelphia announced last month it wouldn't provide surgeries for patients under 19. The president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Dr. Susan Kressly, said the organisation is "unwavering" in its support of gender-affirming care. Chase Strangio, the American Civil Liberties Union lawyer who argued the case for transgender minors and their families, called the ruling "a devastating loss for transgender people, our families, and everyone who cares about the Constitution." Meanwhile, the acting chair of the federal agency that enforces workers rights acknowledged on Wednesday that transgender workers are protected under civil rights laws but defended her decision to drop lawsuits on their behalf, saying her agency must comply with Donald Trump's orders. Andrea Lucas, who was first appointed to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 2020 and elevated to chair in January, spoke at her confirmation hearing at the Senate. Her nomination to serve another five-year term as an EEOC commissioner requires Senate confirmation, though whether she stays on as chair will be up to Trump. Lucas, a strident critic of diversity and inclusion programs and proponent of the idea that there are only two immutable sexes, repeatedly declared that the EEOC is not independent and vowed to enthusiastically follow Trump's executive orders. Those include orders aimed at dismantling diversity and programs in the public and private sectors and declaring that the federal government would only recognise the male and female sexes. with AP
The Advertiser
19-06-2025
- Health
- The Advertiser
US Court upholds ban on gender-affirming care for kids
A ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors in the state of Tennessee has been upheld by the US Supreme Court, in a setback to transgender rights. The justices' 6-3 decision effectively protects from legal challenges many efforts by President Donald Trump's administration and state governments to roll back protections for transgender people. Another 26 states have laws similar to Tennessee's. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for a conservative majority that the law banning puberty blockers and hormone treatments for trans minors doesn't violate the Constitution's equal protection clause, which requires the government to treat similarly situated people the same. "This case carries with it the weight of fierce scientific and policy debates about the safety, efficacy, and propriety of medical treatments in an evolving field. The voices in these debates raise sincere concerns; the implications for all are profound," Roberts wrote. "The Equal Protection Clause does not resolve these disagreements. Nor does it afford us license to decide them as we see best." The court's three liberal justices dissented from the ruling, among them Justice Sonia Sotomayor who wrote, "By retreating from meaningful judicial review exactly where it matters most, the court abandons transgender children and their families to political whims. In sadness, I dissent." The law also limits parents' decision-making ability for their children's health care, she wrote. The decision comes amid other federal and state efforts to regulate the lives of transgender people, including which sports competitions they can join and which bathrooms they can use. In April, Trump's administration sued Maine for not complying with the government's push to ban transgender athletes in girls sports. And the Supreme Court has allowed him to kick transgender service members out of the military, even as court fights continue. The president signed another order to define the sexes as only male and female. Several states where gender-affirming care remains in place have adopted laws or state executive orders seeking to protect it. But since Trump's executive order, some providers have ceased some treatments. For instance, Penn Medicine in Philadelphia announced last month it wouldn't provide surgeries for patients under 19. The president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Dr. Susan Kressly, said the organisation is "unwavering" in its support of gender-affirming care. Chase Strangio, the American Civil Liberties Union lawyer who argued the case for transgender minors and their families, called the ruling "a devastating loss for transgender people, our families, and everyone who cares about the Constitution." Meanwhile, the acting chair of the federal agency that enforces workers rights acknowledged on Wednesday that transgender workers are protected under civil rights laws but defended her decision to drop lawsuits on their behalf, saying her agency must comply with Donald Trump's orders. Andrea Lucas, who was first appointed to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 2020 and elevated to chair in January, spoke at her confirmation hearing at the Senate. Her nomination to serve another five-year term as an EEOC commissioner requires Senate confirmation, though whether she stays on as chair will be up to Trump. Lucas, a strident critic of diversity and inclusion programs and proponent of the idea that there are only two immutable sexes, repeatedly declared that the EEOC is not independent and vowed to enthusiastically follow Trump's executive orders. Those include orders aimed at dismantling diversity and programs in the public and private sectors and declaring that the federal government would only recognise the male and female sexes. with AP A ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors in the state of Tennessee has been upheld by the US Supreme Court, in a setback to transgender rights. The justices' 6-3 decision effectively protects from legal challenges many efforts by President Donald Trump's administration and state governments to roll back protections for transgender people. Another 26 states have laws similar to Tennessee's. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for a conservative majority that the law banning puberty blockers and hormone treatments for trans minors doesn't violate the Constitution's equal protection clause, which requires the government to treat similarly situated people the same. "This case carries with it the weight of fierce scientific and policy debates about the safety, efficacy, and propriety of medical treatments in an evolving field. The voices in these debates raise sincere concerns; the implications for all are profound," Roberts wrote. "The Equal Protection Clause does not resolve these disagreements. Nor does it afford us license to decide them as we see best." The court's three liberal justices dissented from the ruling, among them Justice Sonia Sotomayor who wrote, "By retreating from meaningful judicial review exactly where it matters most, the court abandons transgender children and their families to political whims. In sadness, I dissent." The law also limits parents' decision-making ability for their children's health care, she wrote. The decision comes amid other federal and state efforts to regulate the lives of transgender people, including which sports competitions they can join and which bathrooms they can use. In April, Trump's administration sued Maine for not complying with the government's push to ban transgender athletes in girls sports. And the Supreme Court has allowed him to kick transgender service members out of the military, even as court fights continue. The president signed another order to define the sexes as only male and female. Several states where gender-affirming care remains in place have adopted laws or state executive orders seeking to protect it. But since Trump's executive order, some providers have ceased some treatments. For instance, Penn Medicine in Philadelphia announced last month it wouldn't provide surgeries for patients under 19. The president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Dr. Susan Kressly, said the organisation is "unwavering" in its support of gender-affirming care. Chase Strangio, the American Civil Liberties Union lawyer who argued the case for transgender minors and their families, called the ruling "a devastating loss for transgender people, our families, and everyone who cares about the Constitution." Meanwhile, the acting chair of the federal agency that enforces workers rights acknowledged on Wednesday that transgender workers are protected under civil rights laws but defended her decision to drop lawsuits on their behalf, saying her agency must comply with Donald Trump's orders. Andrea Lucas, who was first appointed to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 2020 and elevated to chair in January, spoke at her confirmation hearing at the Senate. Her nomination to serve another five-year term as an EEOC commissioner requires Senate confirmation, though whether she stays on as chair will be up to Trump. Lucas, a strident critic of diversity and inclusion programs and proponent of the idea that there are only two immutable sexes, repeatedly declared that the EEOC is not independent and vowed to enthusiastically follow Trump's executive orders. Those include orders aimed at dismantling diversity and programs in the public and private sectors and declaring that the federal government would only recognise the male and female sexes. with AP A ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors in the state of Tennessee has been upheld by the US Supreme Court, in a setback to transgender rights. The justices' 6-3 decision effectively protects from legal challenges many efforts by President Donald Trump's administration and state governments to roll back protections for transgender people. Another 26 states have laws similar to Tennessee's. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for a conservative majority that the law banning puberty blockers and hormone treatments for trans minors doesn't violate the Constitution's equal protection clause, which requires the government to treat similarly situated people the same. "This case carries with it the weight of fierce scientific and policy debates about the safety, efficacy, and propriety of medical treatments in an evolving field. The voices in these debates raise sincere concerns; the implications for all are profound," Roberts wrote. "The Equal Protection Clause does not resolve these disagreements. Nor does it afford us license to decide them as we see best." The court's three liberal justices dissented from the ruling, among them Justice Sonia Sotomayor who wrote, "By retreating from meaningful judicial review exactly where it matters most, the court abandons transgender children and their families to political whims. In sadness, I dissent." The law also limits parents' decision-making ability for their children's health care, she wrote. The decision comes amid other federal and state efforts to regulate the lives of transgender people, including which sports competitions they can join and which bathrooms they can use. In April, Trump's administration sued Maine for not complying with the government's push to ban transgender athletes in girls sports. And the Supreme Court has allowed him to kick transgender service members out of the military, even as court fights continue. The president signed another order to define the sexes as only male and female. Several states where gender-affirming care remains in place have adopted laws or state executive orders seeking to protect it. But since Trump's executive order, some providers have ceased some treatments. For instance, Penn Medicine in Philadelphia announced last month it wouldn't provide surgeries for patients under 19. The president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Dr. Susan Kressly, said the organisation is "unwavering" in its support of gender-affirming care. Chase Strangio, the American Civil Liberties Union lawyer who argued the case for transgender minors and their families, called the ruling "a devastating loss for transgender people, our families, and everyone who cares about the Constitution." Meanwhile, the acting chair of the federal agency that enforces workers rights acknowledged on Wednesday that transgender workers are protected under civil rights laws but defended her decision to drop lawsuits on their behalf, saying her agency must comply with Donald Trump's orders. Andrea Lucas, who was first appointed to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 2020 and elevated to chair in January, spoke at her confirmation hearing at the Senate. Her nomination to serve another five-year term as an EEOC commissioner requires Senate confirmation, though whether she stays on as chair will be up to Trump. Lucas, a strident critic of diversity and inclusion programs and proponent of the idea that there are only two immutable sexes, repeatedly declared that the EEOC is not independent and vowed to enthusiastically follow Trump's executive orders. Those include orders aimed at dismantling diversity and programs in the public and private sectors and declaring that the federal government would only recognise the male and female sexes. with AP A ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors in the state of Tennessee has been upheld by the US Supreme Court, in a setback to transgender rights. The justices' 6-3 decision effectively protects from legal challenges many efforts by President Donald Trump's administration and state governments to roll back protections for transgender people. Another 26 states have laws similar to Tennessee's. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for a conservative majority that the law banning puberty blockers and hormone treatments for trans minors doesn't violate the Constitution's equal protection clause, which requires the government to treat similarly situated people the same. "This case carries with it the weight of fierce scientific and policy debates about the safety, efficacy, and propriety of medical treatments in an evolving field. The voices in these debates raise sincere concerns; the implications for all are profound," Roberts wrote. "The Equal Protection Clause does not resolve these disagreements. Nor does it afford us license to decide them as we see best." The court's three liberal justices dissented from the ruling, among them Justice Sonia Sotomayor who wrote, "By retreating from meaningful judicial review exactly where it matters most, the court abandons transgender children and their families to political whims. In sadness, I dissent." The law also limits parents' decision-making ability for their children's health care, she wrote. The decision comes amid other federal and state efforts to regulate the lives of transgender people, including which sports competitions they can join and which bathrooms they can use. In April, Trump's administration sued Maine for not complying with the government's push to ban transgender athletes in girls sports. And the Supreme Court has allowed him to kick transgender service members out of the military, even as court fights continue. The president signed another order to define the sexes as only male and female. Several states where gender-affirming care remains in place have adopted laws or state executive orders seeking to protect it. But since Trump's executive order, some providers have ceased some treatments. For instance, Penn Medicine in Philadelphia announced last month it wouldn't provide surgeries for patients under 19. The president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Dr. Susan Kressly, said the organisation is "unwavering" in its support of gender-affirming care. Chase Strangio, the American Civil Liberties Union lawyer who argued the case for transgender minors and their families, called the ruling "a devastating loss for transgender people, our families, and everyone who cares about the Constitution." Meanwhile, the acting chair of the federal agency that enforces workers rights acknowledged on Wednesday that transgender workers are protected under civil rights laws but defended her decision to drop lawsuits on their behalf, saying her agency must comply with Donald Trump's orders. Andrea Lucas, who was first appointed to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 2020 and elevated to chair in January, spoke at her confirmation hearing at the Senate. Her nomination to serve another five-year term as an EEOC commissioner requires Senate confirmation, though whether she stays on as chair will be up to Trump. Lucas, a strident critic of diversity and inclusion programs and proponent of the idea that there are only two immutable sexes, repeatedly declared that the EEOC is not independent and vowed to enthusiastically follow Trump's executive orders. Those include orders aimed at dismantling diversity and programs in the public and private sectors and declaring that the federal government would only recognise the male and female sexes. with AP
