Chicago, IL – June 17, 2026 – At 87-years-old, Sheila Perry of Wheaton, Ill., has become the oldest known woman to receive a kidney transplant in the state. Although she needed a new kidney to survive, the high risks at her age led other health systems to deem her ineligible for a transplant. It wasn’t until Perry came to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Ill., that she finally found hope.
“Age is just a number,” said Mohammed Javeed Ansari, MD, a nephrologist at Northwestern Medicine. “What we’re looking at is the functional status of the recipient. If someone is living their life at 87, just like a 67-year-old would, they deserve the opportunity to receive a life-saving transplant.”
Doctor Ansari presented Perry’s case to his colleagues at the Northwestern Medicine Organ Transplant Center and fiercely advocated for her treatment. Perry was accepted, and on March 6, Vinayak Rohan, MD, a transplant surgeon at Northwestern Medicine, performed her surgery.
“When Sheila was presented to the committee, everybody was taken aback a little bit.”
Dr. Vinayak Rohan, MD, a Transplant Surgeon at Northwestern Medicine
“It's not every day that we see an 87-year-old looking for a transplant. But after reviewing her health history and seeing how fit she was, we were confident we could do this successfully,” said Dr. Rohan.
By 2050, the number of people over 80 years old is expected to triple. Advancements in healthcare mean people are living longer, and the number of older adults is growing worldwide. As the population ages, Dr. Rohan expects organ transplants in older patients will become more common.
“Surgery and immunosuppression are harder on the body of an older patient, so we’ll have to adapt,” said Dr. Rohan. “We can adjust immunosuppression, cut surgery times, and perform awake kidney transplants without the risks of general anesthesia. There are things we can do to achieve good outcomes and meet the needs of this population.”
The proportion of older donors is also increasing, which may improve wait times for older recipients.
“Even donors in their 70’s are being considered,” said Dr. Ansari. “From a biologic perspective and a physical perspective, age should not be a contraindication for transplantation.”
Just three months after surgery, Perry is back to her normal life. She lives alone by choice, walks several miles each day, and spends most of her time immersed in the arts. Whether it’s the ballet, symphony, or browsing museums, Perry is thankful her new kidney is getting her back to what she loves. As soon as she’s cleared by her doctors, Perry plans to continue her passion of traveling the world.
“This transplant was an opportunity to add a few more years to my life,” said Perry. “I was going to have to do more dialysis, and we know where that eventually leads. Although there were risks involved at 87 years old, I’m so glad I went through with it. I’m not done living my life yet.”
After making history with a kidney transplant at her age, Perry has a message for older patients in her shoes.
“Find an advocate who will believe in you,” said Perry. “If it can save your life, you are worthy of someone else’s kidney, even if you’re in your 80’s. Just go for it.”
(Newswise/HG)
