Legacy of Hope Researchers believe that safety and feasibility testing must be undertaken in a brain-dead human before xenotransplantation could be advanced into a clinical setting for therapeutic use . UAB surgeons and researchers had planned for some time to approach a family for a study of this type – one that they envisioned would mirror a Phase I clinical trial .
INNOVATION
Alan Spriggs , program manager of Authorization Development with Alabama ’ s organ procurement organization Legacy of Hope , approached the Parsons family with this rare opportunity to be a part of something that could change the course of many lives . Parsons ’ accident occurred in Montgomery , Ala ., but O ’ Hara had already made her way to Huntsville to be with their children and family when Spriggs connected with her on the phone . He asked if she ’ d be open to talking to Dr . Locke about a potential study .
“ Alan said Dr . Locke would drive up to Huntsville to talk to me about it in person if that ’ s what I wanted ,” O ’ Hara says . “ We ended up putting her on speakerphone , and Ally and I were in the car together at the time . Dr . Locke explained the study and what it was about , and Ally and I both looked at each other , and we were both like , ‘ Yes , that ’ s definitely something we want to do .’”
O ’ Hara and Ally quickly connected with the rest of the family , and they were unanimous : This is what Parsons would have wanted .
“ To say that they were remarkable is an understatement ,” Dr . Locke says of the Parsons family . “ The notion of allowing us to enroll their loved one in something like this – really one of the first of its kind – was truly remarkable .”
It ’ s not easy to ask the family of someone who has been declared braindead to participate in something novel , but Spriggs says the Parsons family believed he would have fully supported this decision .
“ Ms . O ’ Hara was amazing through all of this ,” Spriggs says . “ She was such a strong person during an incredibly difficult time , especially for their kids . She said it would have meant a lot to Mr . Parsons to know that he was able to do something that was completely different and could potentially benefit so many .”
Jim Parsons ( right ) and family uabmedicine . org / refertransplant
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