March 2025 – Midwest Transplant Network

Sydney Prine: A Heart for Giving

March 26, 2025/in

Sydney Prine was a natural teacher and cheerleader for everyone around her, she believed in kindness and the power of giving.

Sydney Prine: A Heart for Giving

Sydney Prine had a spirit as bright as her smile. She was a cheerleader for others, a natural teacher, and someone who found joy in giving. Her parents, Ginger and Tim, say she learned early on that kindness was a gift worth sharing.

“She figured out that it’s much better to help others and a lot easier to be nice,” her mother, Ginger, said. Sydney carried that lesson with her throughout her life, always looking for ways to lift others up. She especially loved giving presents, eagerly waiting to see the joy on someone’s face when they opened a gift from her.

That’s why, for her family, it was both heartbreaking and beautiful that Sydney’s greatest act of giving came on Christmas Day.

A Life-Saving Gift

At just 23 years old, Sydney had recently accepted her first teaching job—one step closer to her lifelong dream of helping others learn and grow. But in the days leading up to Christmas, she was involved in a tragic car accident.

Her parents were initially told that her heart was too damaged to be donated. But Sydney continued to fight, and over the next few days, she healed enough for her heart to be transplanted on Christmas night.

“She worked and healed her heart, and it was strong enough to be transplanted,” her parents said.

Sydney’s heart gave a grandmother a second chance at life. Her kidneys went to two different men, and she also donated her corneas, skin, ligaments, bone, and blood vessels—helping and healing countless others.

Continuing Sydney’s Legacy

Sydney’s generosity didn’t end with her passing. Her story has inspired many to register as organ donors, including her own family.

“All of us—her parents and her four siblings—are registered donors,” her mother said. “It’s something we will always advocate for. We wouldn’t be able to start to get through this without her giving the gifts she gave.”

Her family believes Sydney’s legacy lives on, not only through the lives she saved but also through the lessons she continues to teach.

“She always wanted to be a teacher,” her mother said. “She’s still teaching. And we’ll help her do that.”

Sydney’s story is a powerful reminder of the life-changing impact of organ donation. Through her selfless gifts, her kindness continues to shine, bringing hope and healing to so many.

Learn more about organ donation at ShareLifeMidwest.com.

Kayla Corbett, Tag Office Supervisor, Sedgwick County Auto Licensing department, Wichita, Kansas. cornea transplant

MTN DMV Spotlight: Kayla Corbett’s cornea transplant changes her life

March 11, 2025/in

/by Midwest Transplant Network

Kayla Corbett is thrilled to work in a job she loves after a cornea transplant.

Kayla Corbett is a Tag Office Supervisor at the Sedgwick County Auto Licensing department in Wichita, Kansas. She shares her story about how a cornea transplant changed her life.

She started to notice a change in her vision when she was in college. Kayla Corbett was 25 when she was diagnosed with Keratoconus in her right eye. It’s an eye disease that causes the cornea to become thin and bulge into a cone shape and leads to blurred and distorted vision. Her doctor said she may one day need a cornea transplant.

“At that time, I thought ‘It’s not that bad,’” said Kayla. “I’ll never have to worry about a transplant or anything.”

But her vision would decline with time. She experienced continual headaches at her job in a school district. Reading to students throughout the school day caused eye strain.

Time passed, and 25 years later, it was 2018. Kayla’s vision had decreased to the point of being legally blind in her right eye. She thought she was too old to have a cornea transplant but found hope in a conversation with her doctor. He assured Kayla that her age would not matter when it was time for the cornea transplant.

A range of emotions

She was terrified when it was time for the surgery. Kayla traveled several hours across Kansas to a doctor in Overland Park. She found herself more relaxed with the procedure once she was settled in and encouraged by the medical staff. Within an hour, the procedure was complete. Her recovery would take less than a week.

The surgery was life-changing for Kayla. She was thrilled with the results of her cornea transplant. “I noticed the changes right away. It was spring and everything was so bright and green.”

Her life improved in many other ways. Spending time with her family was at the top of Kayla’s list of treasured activities. A much-loved hobby of photographing old barns and buildings in black and white also became more focused. “I was able to take a photo of a certain part of the barn with all the details rather than a shot of the entire building.”

Grateful beyond words

Kayla hasn’t connected with the family of her donor hero and is grateful when she says, “I like the word hero because I have a hero that I can’t thank enough. Every day I thank them because I can see. I can play catch with my nieces and nephews. I can go to places I couldn’t before. I can see and that is great.”

Becoming a stronger person throughout this process seems natural for Kayla. She has immense pride in her work and said, “I couldn’t do this job without having had the surgery.”

A new mission

Kayla was familiar with the positive impact of tissue donation after her nephew experienced skin burns. “He received skin grafts that helped him heal more quickly.”

Kayla shares her experience with enthusiasm. “I share my story whenever I can. When Jessica from MTN in Kansas City comes to our office in Wichita, people are always asking questions. I can say that I’m here at this job because of a generous donor hero.”

Our partners

Midwest Transplant Network values our partnerships with DMV, licensing, treasury and Department of Revenue offices in Kansas and Missouri. More individuals can become organ, eye and tissue donors when they say “yes” to the state donor registry at the DMV. According to Donate Life America, 98% of registered donors join the donor registry through their local driver’s license office.

SpecialtyCare Announces Partnership with Midwest Transplant Network to Advance Normothermic Regional Perfusion (NRP) in Organ Donation and Transplantation

March 5, 2025/in

/by Midwest Transplant Network

SpecialtyCare, a leading provider of allied healthcare, is excited to announce a new partnership with Midwest Transplant Network (MTN) to enhance the field of organ donation and transplantation through the use of Normothermic Regional Perfusion (NRP). This collaboration aims to improve the viability of donor organs and increase the success of transplants, ultimately helping to save more lives.

The partnership brings together SpecialtyCare’s expertise in perfusion services and MTN’s leadership in organ donation and procurement, with both organizations already working alongside many of the same top hospitals in the region. Together, they will utilize NRP to perfuse and recondition organs to improve outcomes for transplant recipients and greater opportunities for successful organ recovery.

NRP is a groundbreaking procedure that enables organs, such as kidneys and livers, to be preserved and assessed in a state that closely mimics the body’s normal conditions. This innovative process allows transplant teams to evaluate organs more thoroughly and restore them to an optimal condition before transplantation. As a result, more patients can benefit from life-saving transplants, and the overall efficiency of the organ donation process is increased.

“This partnership represents a major step forward in our mission to provide the highest level of care for transplant recipients and improve the availability and efficiency of organ donation across the country,” said Dr. Steven Choi, CMO of SpecialtyCare. “By combining our expertise in perfusion services with the incredible work that Midwest Transplant Network is doing, we are proud of making this profound impact on the lives of transplant patients and those awaiting life-saving organs.”

“Midwest Transplant Network’s partnership with SpecialtyCare is part of a bold aim to save more lives through organ donation. By using abdominal normothermic regional perfusion (A-NRP) to recover organs, together, we’re able to increase the gifts of livers and kidneys from donor heroes,” said Lori Markham, Vice President & Chief Clinical Officer of Midwest Transplant Network. “Not only does SpecialtyCare have vast perfusion experience, but they are also such a great cultural fit with our organization. Together, we are honoring our donor heroes and saving more lives.”

The partnership between SpecialtyCare and MTN, which began in July 2024, aims to expand NRP services across the Midwest region while providing training and support for transplant professionals. This ensures the technology is fully utilized to save lives. As both organizations continue working together, the partnership is poised to significantly enhance the region’s transplant community and advance the science of NRP.

SpecialtyCare and Midwest Transplant Network remain deeply committed to their shared focus of increasing organ availability, improving patient outcomes, and fostering innovation in transplant medicine.

About SpecialtyCare
SpecialtyCare partners with hospitals and surgery centers to integrate seamlessly into the operating room. With a deep roster of over 1,800 specialists in Cardiac, Neuro, and Surgical services, we enhance patient outcomes, expand coverage, and reduce costs. Leveraging cutting-edge tools, technology, and tens of thousands of hours of experience, we are the premier partner for hospitals. Our SpecialtyCare Operative Procedural Registry (SCOPE™) drives innovation and sets benchmarks for superior care. Accredited by The Joint Commission and trusted by over 1,200 hospitals, SpecialtyCare supports effective OR and ICU operations. Visit Specialtycareus.com for more.

About Midwest Transplant Network
Incorporated in 1973, Midwest Transplant Network facilitates organ, eye and tissue donation in partnership with hospitals and other professional partners to give hope and share life. MTN’s service area is the state of Kansas and western two-thirds of Missouri, with its central office located in Westwood, Kansas, and satellite offices in Wichita, Kansas, and Columbia and Joplin, Missouri. MTN commemorated 50 years of service in 2023.

Generous organ donor heroes from Midwest Transplant Network’s service area saved the lives of 13 people with an organ transplant in 1972. In 2024, that number was 399, illustrating the thoughtfulness of people in Kansas and western Missouri; the strong support from MTN’s hospital and community partners; and MTN’s commitment to continual improvement and saving more lives.