Family of girl who underwent multi-organ transplant calls for ‘celebration of life' for Kyree's angel

PITTSBURGH — An ailing 8-year-old girl from Ellwood City has undergone a rare multi-organ transplant and continues her long road to recovery.

Doctors say Kyree Beachem received a liver, pancreas, and small and large intestines on Wednesday. The surgery at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh took about 10 hours. Kyree has been waiting more than five years for new organs.

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Kyree was born with Hirschsprung's disease, in which nerve cells are missing from the colon. She has been hospitalized frequently in recent months and is totally reliant on intravenous feeding.

In a Facebook post Thursday, Kyree's mother expressed thanks to the hospital and family of the unnamed donor. Nan Beachem says Kyree remains sedated and will need follow-up surgery.

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On Monday, the Kyree's Dream Team Facebook page released an update on Kyree's follow-up surgery and the road ahead.

In addition, they called for a “celebration of life” for Kyree’s angel.

"With the permission of her family, I am sharing Kyree's Angel. A celebration of her life will be held tomorrow and I'm simply asking for all our Dream Team members to please stop and say a prayer for this family as they celebrate the life Arianna had.... And will continue to live."

Earlier this year, Channel 11 covered the story of another young child who desperately needed a medical procedure.

Two-year-old Lucas Goeller was in dire need of a liver, small bowel and pancreas. Lucas’ mother, Jess Goeller, discovered Kyree’s story during her son’s wait for a transplant.

For Jess Goeller, being able to see both Kyree and Lucas receive transplants this year is something she’ll be thankful for.

"I just started thanking God because all odds were stacked against my son and her,” Goeller said. “But God is good and he provided the miracle thanks to everybody's prayers again."

If you want to follow Kyree's journey step-by-step, LIKE her page on Facebook.

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