Parents Make Public Appeal on Behalf of 5-week-old Daughter Who Needs Lung Transplant to Survive

Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is Caring for Infant Girl Suffering from Extremely Rare Lung Disorder

Five-week-old Katelyn Policastro suffers from a rare lung disorder and will need a lung transplant to survive. Katelyn is being cared for in the Neonatal and Infant Critical Care Unit at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. (Photo: Business Wire)

LOS ANGELES--()--Marc and Leslie Policastro of Camarillo, Calif. made a public appeal to the media Friday on behalf of their 5-week-old daughter, Katelyn, who is in immediate need of a lung transplant in order to survive. The infant is being cared for by the Neonatal and Infant Critical Care Unit at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

“This has been an extremely difficult time for us and we want everyone to know that we appreciate all of the kind words and support we have received,” said Marc Policastro. “Today, we are reaching out to the public on behalf of Katelyn. In order to survive she will need a lung transplant. We hope and pray that if this possibility emerges in the coming days or weeks, we encourage people to contact the medical team at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles as soon as possible.”

Katelyn was born on April 27 in Ventura County and soon after doctors noticed that she had low levels of oxygen in her blood. About nine days after her birth, she was transferred to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and was diagnosed with alveolar capillary dysplasia, better known as ACD. Infants with the disorder typically show signs of lack of oxygen and severely increased pulmonary hypertension. The disease is an extremely rare disorder of the lungs and is typically fatal.

“Katelyn is the first patient that I have ever seen with ACD that meets the criteria to be a candidate for a lung transplant that has the potential to save her life,” said Philippe Friedlich, MD, medical director of the Neonatal and Infant Critical Care Unit at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Only 90 documented cases of ACD are known throughout the world, according to Dr. Friedlich. If a donor match is located, Katelyn would be the first ACD patient to ever receive a lung transplant.

The public is encouraged to contact Children’s Hospital Los Angeles should a lung donation become available at (323) 361-5932.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6749009&lang=en

Contacts

Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
Brian Greene, 626-354-1484
bgreene@chla.usc.edu

Contacts

Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
Brian Greene, 626-354-1484
bgreene@chla.usc.edu