Local South Florida Woman Saves Aunt with Kidney Donation at Miami Transplant Institute

By: Krysten Brenlla

For nearly 16 years, 56-year-old Gladys Superlano lived with limited kidney function, relying on just 50 percent of her kidneys.

However, in 2022, her condition took a turn for the worse when doctors noticed blood in her urine.

“I spent so many years with my kidneys working at 50 percent, it was normal for me,” she said. “I never expected them to decline to 11 percent function.”

A visit to her nephrologist showed that Superlano was suffering from a rare medical condition called focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, a disease that causes scarring and damage to parts of the kidneys’ filtering units. The condition makes it harder for the body to filter waste and extra fluid from the blood, leading to swelling, high blood pressure, and in Superlano’s case, kidney failure.

She needed to go on dialysis – or receive a kidney transplant – to survive.

Her niece, Marian Padilla, didn’t think twice.

“Gladys was going through this so quietly, and when she put in our family group chat that she needed a kidney transplant, I immediately called my aunt and told her that I could donate my kidney,” Padilla said.

“Gladys told me no – she was scared for me – but I would have done it for anyone in my family.”

Superlano was referred to Miami Transplant Institute (MTI), an affiliation between Jackson Health System and UHealth – University of Miami Health System, to begin her initial evaluations. MTI’s multidisciplinary team of nephrologists and transplant experts found that Padilla was a perfect match for Superlano.

“Without kidney transplantation, there’s a decreased life expectancy. Dialysis can keep patients alive for many years, but it’s associated with a shorter life expectancy compared to patients who receive a kidney transplant,” said Gaetano Ciancio, MD, MTI’s chief academic and medical officer, and director of the kidney and kidney-pancreas transplant programs. “With living kidney transplants, the recipient lives longer, with an average lifespan of 15 to 20 years.”

After three months of preparation, the women were ready for the transplant procedure. On August 18, 2022, a team led by Rodrigo Vianna, MD, PhD, MTI’s director of transplant services and chief of liver, intestinal, and multivisceral transplant, performed a robotic living kidney donor nephrectomy on Padilla, allowing her to recover faster. At the same time, Dr. Ciancio transplanted Superlano.

Both surgeries were successful, and after just a few days in the hospital, they were discharged home with minimal pain.

“The same day after surgery, I was able to get up from bed and walk – I went to Gladys’ room, and they measured her urine. Everything was perfect,” Padilla said. “It wasn’t a traumatic experience. My lifestyle hasn’t changed. Being able to help my aunt has been a true blessing.”

Today, both Padilla and Superlano live a healthy and normal lifestyle, and dedicate their time to taking care of their children and family with no health setbacks.

Superlano is forever grateful to the teams at MTI – and her niece – for giving her a second chance at living a normal life.

“The opportunity that Marian gave me to not have to go on dialysis or wait for another donor was a blessing,” she said. “There aren’t enough words to show how thankful I am.”

Gaetano Ciancio, MD

Transplant Surgery, Urology