87-Year-Old Wheaton Woman Becomes Oldest Known Female Kidney Transplant Recipient in Illinois (Chicago, IL) – An 87-year-old Wheaton woman has become the oldest known female kidney transplant recipient in Illinois after undergoing a life-saving procedure at Northwestern Memorial Hospital earlier this year.
Sheila Perry received her new kidney on March 6 at Northwestern Medicine after being turned away by other health systems that determined the risks associated with her age made her ineligible for transplantation.
Doctors at Northwestern Medicine took a different approach, focusing on Perry’s overall health and quality of life rather than her age alone.
“Age is just a number,” said Dr. Mohammed Javeed Ansari, 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.”
Ansari advocated for Perry’s case before the Northwestern Medicine Organ Transplant Center, where physicians ultimately approved her for the procedure.
The transplant was performed by Dr. Vinayak Rohan, a transplant surgeon at Northwestern Medicine.
“When Sheila was presented to the committee, everybody was taken aback a little bit,” Rohan said. “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.”
The case highlights a growing trend in healthcare as the population continues to age. According to transplant specialists, advancements in medicine are allowing more older adults to remain healthy and active well into their later years, creating new opportunities for procedures once considered too risky for elderly patients.
By 2050, the global population of people over age 80 is expected to triple. As that demographic grows, physicians anticipate seeing more organ transplant candidates in their 80s and beyond.
“Surgery and immunosuppression are harder on the body of an older patient, so we’ll have to adapt,” Rohan said. “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.”
Doctors also noted that the number of older organ donors is increasing, which could help improve access to transplants for older recipients.
“Even donors in their 70s are being considered,” Ansari said. “From a biologic perspective and a physical perspective, age should not be a contraindication for transplantation.”
Just three months after surgery, Perry has returned to her active lifestyle. She lives independently, walks several miles each day, and regularly attends cultural events including ballet performances, symphony concerts and museum exhibits.
She also hopes to resume international travel once she receives final clearance from her medical team.
“This transplant was an opportunity to add a few more years to my life,” Perry said. “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.”
Perry said she hopes her experience encourages other older adults facing similar medical challenges to continue advocating for themselves.
“Find an advocate who will believe in you,” she said. “If it can save your life, you are worthy of someone else’s kidney, even if you’re in your 80s. Just go for it.”
Northwestern Medicine officials said Perry’s successful transplant demonstrates how individualized patient evaluations can expand access to life-saving treatments and improve outcomes for older adults.
87-Year-Old Wheaton Woman Becomes Oldest Known Female Kidney Transplant Recipient in Illinois
