Pediatric Transplant Team Give Central Florida Teenager a Second Chance at Life at Holtz Children’s Hospital

By: Miranda Torres

When Brianna Denny was 11 years old, she was diagnosed with a blood factor deficiency, a rare bleeding disorder where clotting proteins in the blood are missing, low, or don’t work well. Until this point, she was a normal, healthy kid who enjoyed softball, spending time with her friends and family, and going to school.

In February, Brianna, now 15, broke out in a rash on her feet. When it began to spread to her legs and became painful to the touch, she and her family knew something was wrong. A visit to a local children’s hospital led her to a rheumatologist, who began running tests to identify the cause of the rash.

About a month later, the rash returned and went further up Brianna’s leg. A hematologist recommended she be transported to Holtz Children’s Hospital.

While at Holtz Children’s, it was discovered that Brianna had autoimmune hepatitis, a rare, chronic liver disease that occurs when the body’s immune system attacks the liver, and hepatopulmonary syndrome, a rare lung complication connected to liver disease. Due to these conditions, she was experiencing stage three cirrhosis of the liver, a condition that can only be treated with a liver transplant.

Her hepatopulmonary disease meant that Brianna required oxygen for over a month while the team at Holtz children’s focused on her liver.

Brianna was immediately placed under the care of the pediatric transplant team at the Miami Transplant Institute (MTI), which included Gennaro Selvaggi, MD, transplant surgeon, Jennifer Garcia, MD, medical director of pediatric transplant services, adult and pediatric intestinal rehabilitation, and intestinal transplant, Akin Tekin, MD, liver, intestinal, and multivisceral surgeon, and Jessica Hochberg, MD, pediatric gastroenterologist at Holtz Children’s Hospital.

Brianna was listed for a transplant on April 17, and just seven days later, received the call that a liver had been found. On April 25, Dr. Selvaggi and his team transplanted Brianna and gave her a second chance at life.

While it was initially expected that Brianna could potentially require oxygen for at least a year post-transplant, she is off oxygen and recovering back home in Lake Placid. “She is determined, a fighter, and against all odds wants to get back to her normal life which is think is hugely important in her recovery journey,” says Dr. Hochberg. She also has a great support system in her family.”

She is looking forward to returning to her favorite activities such as softball and spending time with her friends, and school in November.

“Thank you to the team of doctors, nurses, and everyone at the hospital who took care of me,” Brianna said. “My mom gave me the strength to get through this, and so did my friends, who reached out every day.”

Akin Tekin, MD

General Surgery, Transplant Surgery

Gennaro Selvaggi, MD

General Surgery

Jennifer Garcia, MD

Pediatric Gastroenterology, Pediatrics

Jessica Hochberg, MD

Pediatric Gastroenterology, Pediatrics