Josie Greco thrives 12 years after kidney transplant

Josie has a smile on her face wherever she goes.

Josie Greco has been beating the odds since her birth on April 30, 2008. You may remember her as an Akron Children’s superhero patient for the 2017 Akron Marathon Race Series. Now at age 17, Josie continues to make her mark on the world.

Josie survived a traumatic birth, arriving 11 weeks early and weighing just 2 pounds. She suffered brain and kidney damage and was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Josie was transferred to the Akron Children’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for specialized care. “We live on the Ohio/Pennsylvania border and hadn’t even heard of Akron Children’s before then,” Josie’s mom, Jean, recalled. “The NICU doctors said to give them 6 hours to turn Josie’s life around, and they did.”

Josie stayed in the NICU for over 2 months. “Josie was in renal (kidney) failure within the first month of her life,” said Dr. Shefali Mahesh, nephrologist with Akron Children’s Pediatric Nephrology and pediatrician in chief. “We put her on medication to buy us time until she was at least a year old and weighed 22 pounds, the minimum requirements for a kidney transplant. She did well until 2012, when her kidney function dropped to 20%. That’s on the cusp of needing a transplant.”

Care collaboration with Cincinnati Children’s

Akron Children’s is not a transplant hospital – so Jean and her husband, Lou, had a big decision to make. “They did their research, looking at Ohio and Pennsylvania children’s hospitals for Josie’s transplant,” Dr. Mahesh said. “They were most comfortable having the transplant at Cincinnati Children’s, which enabled them to stay with their Akron Children’s team for care before and after surgery.”

Jean and Lou were matches to donate a kidney, but the transplant team chose Jean’s. She gave that lifesaving gift on Josie’s fifth birthday in 2013.

Dr. Mahesh worked with the Cincinnati Children’s nephrology team to coordinate Josie’s care. “We didn’t have a formal contract with Cincinnati Children’s like we do now,” Dr. Mahesh recalled. “We just knew we needed to collaborate to provide the best possible outcome for Josie.”

Jean gave Josie the lifesaving gift of a kidney.

The Greco family visited Cincinnati Children’s a few times before the transplant. “I stayed with Josie the night before our surgeries,” Jean said. “Lou was with me before my surgery, while my mom and stepdad stayed with Josie. We started out on different floors after surgery, but then they wheeled me up to Josie’s room so I could be with her.”

Jean and Josie stayed at Cincinnati Children’s for 9 days while they recovered. They haven’t been back to Cincinnati for kidney care because Josie gets everything she needs at Akron Children’s.

Josie doesn’t remember much about the kidney transplant 12 years ago, but Jean sure does. “Josie shouldn’t have survived her traumatic birth, and she’s overcome so many health challenges since then,” she said. “She wouldn’t be here without miracles and the power of prayer. From social media to prayer chains, people all across the nation have shown us such kindness.”

Building bonds

Josie has had 19 surgeries, from her kidney transplant to orthopedic surgeries that improved her mobility. She got so close with Akron Children’s staff that they’d color coordinate their outfits. “They’d ask what color they should wear for her next appointment,” Jean said with a chuckle. “It wasn’t just the medical staff – but it trickled down to volunteers and even cafeteria employees.” 

Jean said Dr. Mahesh is “way more than a doctor,” comparing her to an aunt or big sister, and wouldn’t change a thing about Josie’s medical care. “I’m still in touch with staff and nurses who aren’t part of her care team anymore. These are connections we won’t lose,” Jean shared. “Akron Children’s is home to us, and the care they provide is unmatched.”

A heart for supporting others

Josie recently finished her junior year at Mohawk High School. Although she uses a walker or wheelchair, she’s been cheerleading since the seventh grade. “She loves to support her school’s sports teams,” Jean said. “Fans will say, ‘Josie’s here – the game can start now.’ She keeps player statistics and stays up to date on school rivalries.”

Josie celebrates her last day of school as a junior. Bring on her senior year!

After high school graduation, Josie hopes to participate in a rotating internship program in Pittsburgh for students interested in health care careers. “She wants to do something in the health care field, whether as a job or volunteering,” Jean explained. “She’d love to be able to talk to patients before tests or procedures. After all she’s been through, she can tell them everything is going to be OK.”

Josie touches people with her heart, maturity and determination. “Josie inspires me because she’s constantly looking at ways to get better,” Dr. Mahesh said. “She doesn’t focus on what she doesn’t have, but she concentrates on her strengths. She’s stable 12 years after her kidney transplant — and it’s rewarding to see her thrive.”