Two women connected by uterine transplant meet for first time

Those are the groundbreaking cries of baby number 9. I get emotional even now. After 7000 babies, it's still that special. The first baby born in the US following *** successful uterine transplant. But now when you see this boy, you really feel like you've done something beautiful, pure, natural. This miracle has been more than *** year in the making. The mother received *** donated uterus from *** live donor, and every moment thereafter, doctors say, has been filled with worry. *** kidney transplant, you know whether it's working in seconds, and this ultimately was *** year plus before we found out, so. There's *** big difference between seconds and years. This has been ***, *** long, *** long run for us, uh, compared to what we normally do, uh, but definitely worth it. Even for those who have been delivering little miracles for decades. There was something about this that was so special just. Sorry, I'm an emotional person. There was something so exciting about this because the patients are so excited. The parents released *** statement saying they hope the little boy can serve as an inspiration and demonstrate throughout his life that no matter what obstacles are in your path with the right team working beside you, anything is possible. What they're willing to go through to get to this point is just overwhelming to me. This is probably the most special one. I don't want any of my patients to hear that, but.

Updated: 6:49 PM CDT Jul 12, 2025

Editorial Standards ⓘ

Two women connected by uterine transplant meet for first time

Updated: 6:49 PM CDT Jul 12, 2025

Editorial Standards ⓘ

Two women, connected forever by a unique medical procedure.A York County, Pennsylvania, woman received a donated uterus from another woman from Pennsylvania to help her finally become a mother.The two women saw each other for the first time this week, along with the baby girl they helped bring into the world.Video above: 1st U.S. baby born to mother with transplanted uterusUterine transplant was not possible when the physician who performed this surgery first became a doctor.On Tuesday, the eighth baby born after a successful uterine transplant through Penn Medicine was introduced to the world.For the two mothers involved — the donor and the recipient — their first meeting was all about little Olivia, who stole the spotlight.Emma Dolzal, 33, was born without a uterus and feared she would never be a mother until she learned about a uterine transplant trial at Penn Medicine.Sara Leister, a 40-year-old nurse, saw news of the new uterine transplant surgeries and applied to donate her uterus."I get to see a part of my miracle face-to-face," Dolzal said. "So, this is a beautiful moment. This is a moment that I've been looking, you know, forward to.""I don't know, I think there's just a part of me that, like, knew that there was going to be a baby at the end," Leister said. "And here she is. And it's amazing.""I'm just so happy right now," Dolzal said.The women met for the first time Tuesday, expressing gratitude to each other and cherishing the outcome of their journey.Baby Olivia is unaware of the medical miracle she represents."I will tell her that Sara made this possible for us," Dolzal said. "So, yeah, that's one of the first things I'll tell her is, I think it's just amazing for somebody to, you know, want to donate and give this opportunity to other women."Dr. Kate O'Neill, who performed the surgery, said, "To be able to create more amazing moms is really something special for me.""So, letting people know it is a thing that you can be born without a uterus," O'Neill said. "And there is a procedure that might be available to you that you could carry a child.""It feels great," Dolzal said. "It's just beautiful."Penn Medicine is now out of the trial phase, and the procedure is available to anyone who qualifies.While Penn covered the costs for these families, the process, including the transplant, IVF, and pregnancy, is expensive and not always covered by insurance, though that is changing.

Two women, connected forever by a unique medical procedure.

A York County, Pennsylvania, woman received a donated uterus from another woman from Pennsylvania to help her finally become a mother.

The two women saw each other for the first time this week, along with the baby girl they helped bring into the world.

Video above: 1st U.S. baby born to mother with transplanted uterus

Uterine transplant was not possible when the physician who performed this surgery first became a doctor.

On Tuesday, the eighth baby born after a successful uterine transplant through Penn Medicine was introduced to the world.

For the two mothers involved — the donor and the recipient — their first meeting was all about little Olivia, who stole the spotlight.

Emma Dolzal, 33, was born without a uterus and feared she would never be a mother until she learned about a uterine transplant trial at Penn Medicine.

Sara Leister, a 40-year-old nurse, saw news of the new uterine transplant surgeries and applied to donate her uterus.

"I get to see a part of my miracle face-to-face," Dolzal said. "So, this is a beautiful moment. This is a moment that I've been looking, you know, forward to."

"I don't know, I think there's just a part of me that, like, knew that there was going to be a baby at the end," Leister said. "And here she is. And it's amazing."

"I'm just so happy right now," Dolzal said.

The women met for the first time Tuesday, expressing gratitude to each other and cherishing the outcome of their journey.

Baby Olivia is unaware of the medical miracle she represents.

"I will tell her that Sara made this possible for us," Dolzal said. "So, yeah, that's one of the first things I'll tell her is, I think it's just amazing for somebody to, you know, want to donate and give this opportunity to other women."

Dr. Kate O'Neill, who performed the surgery, said, "To be able to create more amazing moms is really something special for me."

"So, letting people know it is a thing that you can be born without a uterus," O'Neill said. "And there is a procedure that might be available to you that you could carry a child."

"It feels great," Dolzal said. "It's just beautiful."

Penn Medicine is now out of the trial phase, and the procedure is available to anyone who qualifies.

While Penn covered the costs for these families, the process, including the transplant, IVF, and pregnancy, is expensive and not always covered by insurance, though that is changing.

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