Organs in the News

Ever since a woman successfully donated a kidney through her vagina, news of faulty gallbladders and bum kidneys being removed in this fashion have surfaced. Who knew you could give birth to a kidney? Apparently the donor (in the dark grey sweatsuit at right) had previously had a hysterectomy, so that pesky uterus wasn't in the way. The recovery time is much shorter, but she sure doesn't look too thrilled. Her niece, however, who got the kidney, looks pretty darn happy. Let's hope her body doesn't reject it! In less titillating but no less sensational news, doctors have developed a new artificial liver that helps dire patients hang on a little longer while waiting for a transplant.   [photo via CNN}