Long Island girl dances to a healthier tune after receiving her brother’s kidney

COMMACK, N.Y. (PIX11) — A Commack girl is celebrating her survival from a rare genetic disorder that affects one in 40,000 babies worldwide. She was back on the dance floor at Cohen’s Children’s Medical Center where she received her brother’s kidney in a transplant procedure in February. The girl and her family returned to the medical facility to thank her doctors and to perform a Barbie-themed dance.

Emily Alanko was in high spirits, as she emerged from a Barbie prop and performed a dance choreographed by her longtime teacher. She is inspired by Barbie’s belief that “There’s a star right inside you so come on and let it out.”

The 11-year-old girl was born with one kidney that wasn’t functioning properly. Three months ago she received a kidney transplant at Cohen Children’s Medical Center. The donor was her 30-year-old brother, Dr. Daniel Alanko.

“With this I added decades to her life without taking it off of mine,” Alanko said.

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Doctors declared the transplant procedure a success, giving the young girl a new lease on life. Her father, Steven, was emotional.

“Within one day the kidney was normal,” Steven noted, and added, “This was a miracle, what a blessing to hear that news and my son. He’s my hero.”

Emily smiled and looked at her doctors. “Thank you to the medical team, my brother, because they saved my life,” she declared, and noted that she was getting more sick and almost died.

Emily loves everything Barbie, everything pink and everything dance.

“When you dance it makes you feel better because when you’re on stage it makes you feel like you’re the only person in the room and not to worry about anything else,” Emily said.

Dr. Pamela Singer, medical director of the Pediatric Kidney Transplant Program, was pleased with Emily’s recovery. “After six weeks she was back in school, she’s now dancing as well as doing all the things she’s always loved to do,” Singer said.

Emily’s father observed, “She never ate meat. Within two days home from surgery she had a turkey leg and she was eating it like a viking.”

The Alankos said they couldn’t be prouder of their little girl and her big brother.

“My heart is filled because as a parent your heart goes to the darkest places wondering if she can she survive. She did,” said Emily’s mother, Monica Resendez.

And Emily sounded the final note, “I feel better than ever, like when they give you shot in arm, and it makes things better.”

To quote from Barbie, “What makes you different makes you special.” Emily Alanko will always be special to her family and the medical team that brought her back to health. From dialysis to transplant, doctors say Emily’s life expectancy has now been lengthened by dozens of years.

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