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American Morning
Second Transplant for Santillan Still Underway
Aired February 20, 2003 - 09:33 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: We are going to get the very latest now on the transplant surgery going on at Duke University. Renee McCormick, a spokesman for Jesica's Hope Chest, which helped raise the money for Jesica Santillan's surgery is with us now from Durham, North Carolina.
Thank you very much for joining us. We heard you a little bit earlier on this morning where another family spokesperson described Jesica as a very sick little girl. Barely hanging on. What are you hearing from doctors right now? Are they giving you any progress report at all?
RENEE MCCORMICK, JESICA'S HOPE CHEST: At this time, one has just came in, but I am not privy to that information at this point. We know that she is in surgery and hopefully expected to receive O- positive organs, which are a match to Jesica, and we will have the very latest, and as soon as it is available, we will be re-airing that to the media.
ZAHN: And for the folks who didn't have a chance to catch you early on in the news conference, describe to us how the family found out that, indeed, a second set of organs had been found for Jesica.
MCCORMICK: About 1:00 a.m. this morning, they were called over to Duke where they were informed that organs had become available. And that Durham was going to send a procurement team out to harvest those organs, and that's how they found out that their daughter was going to get another transplant today.
ZAHN: And I know another family spokesperson talked a little bit about the very tough balancing act this family has to walk. Where he said that, although he acknowledged a grave mistake had been made, he had the full trust in this transplant team. In fact, many of the same members who did the first transplant. How optimistic is the family right now?
MCCORMICK: I think the family feels like they're in the midst of a miracle, and I think they would be very optimistic at this point. The way this has unfolded has been heaven-sent, we believe. And so the chances of another O-positive heart and lungs being found at 11th hour, they are incredibly optimistic.
ZAHN: Well, Renee, our hearts and thoughts will be with you, and all the members of Jesica's family. I know the toughest part of the journey lies ahead when they see if she will -- the body will in fact reject those new organs. Thank you again for your time this morning.
MCCORMICK: Thank you so much.
ZAHN: I know you are in a swirl of activity there. Appreciate your spending a couple of minutes with us.
MCCORMICK: Well, we appreciate all you have done to help get this to the national stage. Thank you.
ZAHN: Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired February 20, 2003 - 09:33 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: We are going to get the very latest now on the transplant surgery going on at Duke University. Renee McCormick, a spokesman for Jesica's Hope Chest, which helped raise the money for Jesica Santillan's surgery is with us now from Durham, North Carolina.
Thank you very much for joining us. We heard you a little bit earlier on this morning where another family spokesperson described Jesica as a very sick little girl. Barely hanging on. What are you hearing from doctors right now? Are they giving you any progress report at all?
RENEE MCCORMICK, JESICA'S HOPE CHEST: At this time, one has just came in, but I am not privy to that information at this point. We know that she is in surgery and hopefully expected to receive O- positive organs, which are a match to Jesica, and we will have the very latest, and as soon as it is available, we will be re-airing that to the media.
ZAHN: And for the folks who didn't have a chance to catch you early on in the news conference, describe to us how the family found out that, indeed, a second set of organs had been found for Jesica.
MCCORMICK: About 1:00 a.m. this morning, they were called over to Duke where they were informed that organs had become available. And that Durham was going to send a procurement team out to harvest those organs, and that's how they found out that their daughter was going to get another transplant today.
ZAHN: And I know another family spokesperson talked a little bit about the very tough balancing act this family has to walk. Where he said that, although he acknowledged a grave mistake had been made, he had the full trust in this transplant team. In fact, many of the same members who did the first transplant. How optimistic is the family right now?
MCCORMICK: I think the family feels like they're in the midst of a miracle, and I think they would be very optimistic at this point. The way this has unfolded has been heaven-sent, we believe. And so the chances of another O-positive heart and lungs being found at 11th hour, they are incredibly optimistic.
ZAHN: Well, Renee, our hearts and thoughts will be with you, and all the members of Jesica's family. I know the toughest part of the journey lies ahead when they see if she will -- the body will in fact reject those new organs. Thank you again for your time this morning.
MCCORMICK: Thank you so much.
ZAHN: I know you are in a swirl of activity there. Appreciate your spending a couple of minutes with us.
MCCORMICK: Well, we appreciate all you have done to help get this to the national stage. Thank you.
ZAHN: Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
