A 25-year-old woman in Phoenix, Arizona, waits nearly three years for an intestine transplant after a car crash destroyed her small intestine. Katherine Screws is unable to eat normally and relies on intravenous nutrition, with periods when she is too ill to leave her bed. Her care involves frequent monitoring while clinicians assess whether and when she can receive a suitable organ.
The reporting from multiple outlets describes the case as an example of how difficult it can be to complete life-saving transplants for patients with severe, ongoing medical needs. While details differ in emphasis, the articles point to a broader set of challenges in the US organ allocation and transplant process, including timing, eligibility and access to care, and how long patients can remain dependent on supportive treatment while waiting. The story focuses on her experience of navigating the system as her condition continues, and on what her long wait reveals about transplant logistics and prioritization.
