HOLLYWOOD, Fla. — Nearly 2,000 miles separate Denver and Hollywood. But in a matter of hours, that cross-country journey became part of a medical effort that likely saved a young girl’s life.

If you met 18-year-old Arianna Crockett, you might think she has lived a normal life. But her story is anything but.

At just 8 years old, Arianna lost her right kidney after it was severely damaged and she underwent a nephrectomy.

Years later, after her family moved from Jamaica to South Florida in 2023, she was diagnosed with STAR syndrome, a condition that affects multiple parts of the body.

For years, she managed the condition, but in January, everything changed.

“I was actually at school when mom got the call from Dr. Marshall saying you need to pick her up from school right now and bring her into the ER,” Arianna said.

Doctors soon determined she was in complete kidney failure and needed a transplant quickly. Complicating matters, she learned she has a rare blood type.

“We found out that I had a very rare blood type, which is B positive,” she said. “So they said that it would be kind of harder to find me a match.”

That’s where Dr. Chen comes in. She is the director of the living donor transplant program at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital and Memorial Healthcare System.

“She had several lovely family members come forward, but for various reasons they were either incompatible or not medically suitable,” Dr. Chen said.

Eventually, a match was found -- a distant family member’s wife.

“She is my second cousin’s wife and she is a universal blood type,” Arianna said. “She’s a very sweet person. I’m very grateful for her, because she gave me the kidney.”

This week, surgeons in Colorado removed the healthy kidney from the donor, placed it on a plane to South Florida, and then transported it by helicopter in the pouring rain to Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, where surgeons completed the transplant.

In about 12 hours, Arianna’s long medical battle became easier.

“I feel so refreshed, you know, after a long day and tracking across country and a long surgery, that we have a good outcome,” Dr. Chen said.

Doctors say it marks a milestone procedure.

“She’s the first remote donor living unrelated kidney transplant in South Florida,” Dr. Chen said.

Now, Arianna is entering a new normal. She will still need regular lab work and check-ins for months and will take medication for the rest of her life. She hopes to go home Sunday and still plans to walk across the stage at her high school graduation.

When asked about returning to school, she said, “No more physical school.”

Doctors say living donor kidneys typically last longer than deceased donor organs -- about 15 to 25 years -- and begin working immediately.

Doctors at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital say they hope to discharge Arianna on Monday.

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