IU Health Transplant

01/27/2026

Riley Children’s Health provides access to pediatric primary and specialty care across Indiana, including at Riley Hospital for Children in downtown…

01/21/2026

Grandfather: ‘Kidney transplant gives me more years to raise my grandchildren’
Derek Black was born with a kidney that didn’t fully develop at birth. Over the years, he developed high blood pressure, eventually impairing the function of his working kidney.
Six years ago – on June 24, 2020, Black received a new kidney.
“What that means is I don’t have 20 hours of my life tied up in dialysis and I don’t plan my day around dialysis,” said Black, 67. “My reason for getting a transplant is because me and my wife are raising our grandchildren.”
Black met his wife, Lilly, through a mutual friend. They have been married for 36 years and are the parents to four children and grandparents to three grandchildren, ages 13, 16 and 17.
Born and raised in Indianapolis, Black graduated from North Central High School where he played baseball. After high school, he earned a degree in restaurant and hotel management and spent most of his career working in the industry. He managed the food service for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway media center for a dozen years and worked at such local restaurants as MCL and the former Damiens, known for its slow-cooked ribs.
Now he is semi-retired and enjoys working as a floral delivery driver. “My busiest days are Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and Christmas. Who doesn’t like putting a smile on someone’s face?,” said Black. Most of his time is spent raising his grandchildren.
“My biggest goal is to teach them old school ethics. To help instill in them that achieving something is its own reward.”
Black was in the care of Dr. William Goggins when he received his transplant. He continues regular checkups with his nephrologist Dr. Oluwafisayo Adebiyi.
His kidney transplant wasn’t Black’s first experience with IU Health.
“I was born at Methodist Hospital; three of my children were born at Methodist Hospital; and two of my grandchildren were born at IU Health,” said Black. He was also hospitalized with a serious leg wound the year before his transplant.
Black’s recent clinical visit included routine care by nurses Lynsi Hittle and Rob Talhelm of the vascular access team. Hittle has worked with IU Health for five years and Talhelm has been with IU Health six years.
“We see patients whose veins you often can’t see or feel. With imaging there’s no guessing. We can get the vein more immediately,” said Talhelm. Patients who have been on dialysis often have difficult veins because of frequent needle sticks, and kidney disease that can damage the veins, said Black.
“I go through this every time I visit, and I can’t say enough about the care I receive. I’m absolutely grateful for IU Health for all they have done.”
-By TJ Banes, IU Health Senior Journalist, tfender1@iuhealth.org

01/21/2026

Among programs performing at least 100 lung transplants in the 2.5 year period captured in the most recent SRTR report.

01/15/2026

01/08/2026

When a mother needed a kidney, her daughter responded.

01/08/2026

Two transplants and this baker is advocating for others

Kevinna Walker was 6 months old when her kidneys failed due to dysplasia, abnormal growth or cells. In 1984, she required peritoneal administered at IU Health Riley Hospital for Children.

To help care for her daughter, Walker’s mom, Betty Reese became a dialysis technician. Together, they faced kidney disease.

“I had a great team at IU Health,” said Walker, mentioning pediatric nephrologists Dr. Jerry Bergstein, Dr. Sharon P. Andreoli, and Dr. Muhammad Yaquad. She also offered thanks to her transplant coordinators Kim Lippelt and Mary Lynn Subrin. On December 18, 1987, Walker received her first kidney transplant.

“I went on to a normal life with lifetime medications transplant appointments, and labs,” said Walker, 41. In 2007 she had her first son, “AJ.” She experienced the loss of a second child, a girl, in 2011. “Shortly after her passing I was back on dialysis, when my mother trained me to know everything about the dialysis machine, what to look for, how to better educate myself on certain foods, and fluid intake,” said Walker.

While she continued life, she waited for a second transplant.

During that time, she raised her son and attended the Chef’s Academy, a culinary division of Harrison College. Walker’s passion was baking and she worked for several Indianapolis restaurants including Cake Bake and The Gallery Pastry Shop.

On Oct. 13, 2023, Walker received a second kidney transplant in the care of Dr. William Goggins.

As she continues her labs every month and appointments every four months, Wallace said she’s doing great.

“I’m looking forward to doing anything I want,” said Wallace. “I want to write a book about my experience and become more involved advocating for transplant.”

-Photo by Mike Dickbernd, Visual Journalist, mdickbernd@iuhealth.org
-By TJ Banes, IU Health Senior Journalist, tfender1@iuhealth.org

12/23/2025

Transplant nurse retires after three decades of service

Friends and collogues recently gathered to wish long-time nurse Kristy Williams the best on her retirement.

“I will miss my co-workers the most. I have a fantastic group of nurses, administration staff and medical assistants that I have worked with throughout my entire career,” said Williams. “I will also miss working with my dedicated transplant doctors and surgeons.”

Some of those doctors and surgeons posed with Williams for a photo. Those include Dr. Andy Lutz, Kidney Transplant Surgeon, Dr. Muhammad Yaqub, transplant nephrologist; Dr. William Goggins, kidney transplant surgeon and IU Health Kidney Transplant Surgical Director; Dr. Muhammad Jan, kidney transplant nephrologist, Dr. Asif Sharfuddin, kidney transplant nephrologist and IU Health Kidney Transplant Medical Director.

Williams, started with IU Health in October 1996 and worked as a nurse in medical surgery for 11 years, in liver transplant for five years and as a kidney transplant coordinator for the past 14 years.

She said she pursued a career in nursing because she has a passion for helping others.

In retirement she plans to travel and golf. She enjoys physical activities such as walking and biking.

-By TJ Banes, IU Health Senior Journalist, tfender1@iuhealth.or go

12/19/2025

As two men recover from lung transplants, their hearts are filled with gratitude.

12/10/2025

There are many things that connect these two sisters. Now, they’re connected by the gift of life.

12/09/2025