Patient Stories

What began as a devastating dual diagnosis turned into a powerful story of love, thanks to the gift of life from her two sons.

• After being diagnosed with fatty liver disease and kidney failure, Lynnette Knott needed both a liver and kidney transplant to survive.
• Her two sons, Matt and Mark, chose to become living organ donors—Matt donating a kidney and Mark donating part of his liver to save their mom.
• In May 2024, the family reunited with their UC Health care team to celebrate the success of the transplants and Lynnette’s second chance at life.

Facing a Life-Threatening Diagnosis

In early 2023, Lynnette was confronted with the harsh reality that her time with her family might be cut short as she faced a daunting diagnosis of fatty liver disease and kidney failure. Medical experts told her she needed a new kidney and new liver to survive – something that she would likely not have access to due to the hundreds of thousands of others, many sicker than her, waiting on the National Transplant List.

A Family's Unwavering Love

However, in the face of adversity, hope shone through the actions of her two sons, Matt and Mark. Without hesitation, both stepped up to be evaluated as living donors—and, incredibly, they were each a perfect match. United in their mission to save their mom, the brothers made a life-changing decision: Mark would donate part of his liver, and Matt would give one of his kidneys.

“It was a no-brainer,” Mark expresses as he and Matt look back on their decisions to be their mother's living donors.

The Transplants: A Coordinated Lifesaving Effort

Under the care of the dedicated team at the UC Health Transplant Program, Lynnette's journey toward a second chance at life began.

“On Monday, we did the liver transplant,” said Cutler Quillin, MD, Liver Transplant Surgical Director at UC Health. “And then on Thursday, we did the kidney transplant.”

“I’m just so glad to still be here,” said Lynnette.

“This means everything to me as a provider. Every operation we do is complicated, and this is all about giving access and care to patients who otherwise wouldn’t receive it. Receiving both organs from living donors is the best that a recipient who is on the waiting list can expect, especially from a kidney transplant standpoint,” says Madison Cuffy, MD, MBA,  Chief of the Division of Transplant at UC Health.

A Mother’s Gratitude and a Joyful Reunion

In May 2024, the family returned to the hospital to thank the transplant team for making it all happen.

Sitting hand in hand, Lynnette and John, her husband of 47 years, shared an emotional moment as they revisited the moments that have brought them where they are today. As a mother who has devoted her entire life to nurturing and caring for her children, Lynnette finds herself profoundly moved by the role reversal, now being the recipient of such immense care and support from her children. "I am overwhelmed by the way my family has rallied around me,” she says.

To her care team, she expresses, “They are a great bunch of people. Everybody was so attentive and so kind.”

A Lasting Bond

The Knott family’s story is a powerful reminder of the impact that love, sacrifice, and the world-class care provided by UC Health can have on the lives of patients.

“Not only did she bring us into the world, but now she permanently has a piece of us with her!” Matt adds with a smile.

Give the Gift of a Second Chance

Right now, someone is waiting for a life-changing call – a call that could give them a future. You have the power to be that hope.

Discover how you can make a lasting, life-saving impact through the UC Health Living Donor Organ Program and learn more about living organ donation today.