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Transplant Toddler from Tampa Meets Public

A first-ever attempt at transplanting five organs in a child has succeeded far beyond the hopes of the family and doctors of 3-year-old Adonis Ortiz, who was born with his intestines outside his body. The Tampa baby and his parents went on camera at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami this week to talk about the historic transplant, carried out in October. Doctors now expect that Adonis can go home early next year, 10 News reports. 

He received a new liver, pancreas, stomach and small and large intestines.

Doctors say Adonis was born in Tampa with a condition in which the intestines protrude through a hole in the abdominal wall. He underwent his first surgery when he was 3 months old and has had several other procedures. Earlier this year he was diagnosed with liver fibrosis.

His doctors say he received the transplant without an opening that connects the colon to the surface of the abdomen. 

The family has been traveling between their Tampa home and Holtz Children’s Hospital at the UM/Jackson Memorial Medical Center, according to a news release.

--Health News Florida is part of WUSF Public Media. For more health news, visit HealthNewsFlorida.org.

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