Teen Transplant Survivors Take Center Court, Highlighting Gift of Life

A Warriors game became the setting for two kidney transplant survivors to share their stories, and to highlight the life-saving power of organ donation.

Under the bright lights of Chase Center on Tuesday, Feb. 3, with thousands of fans on their feet and anticipation filling the arena, two teens waited on the sidelines for a moment that meant more than basketball.

As the Golden State Warriors prepared to face the Philadelphia 76ers, 15-year-old Dhearth Kuuipo Mwangin and 15-year-old Jaxon Shaneyfelt, both kidney transplant recipients cared for at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford, joined local kids on center court as the evening’s “anthem buddies.”

The Warriors’ Anthem Buddy program recognizes youth groups whose causes inspire hope and resilience. Dhearth and Jaxon proudly stood in front of some of their favorite players during the national anthem, helping to shine a spotlight on the lifesaving power of organ donation. For both, it was their first experience at an NBA game.

Through Stanford Medicine Children’s Health’s relationship with Donor Network West, their special moment was dedicated to raising awareness about an issue touching thousands of families nationwide.

Jaxon Shaneyfelt accompanied by his sister (left), and Dhearth Kuuipo Mwangin (right), in the tunnels of the Chase Center before heading center court for the national anthem.

And for both Dhearth and Jaxon, the occasion was deeply personal. Just over a month ago, in December, Dhearth underwent a kidney transplant after five and half years on the transplant waitlist. His medical journey began when he was diagnosed with kidney disease at age 7 and ultimately was found to have a rare inherited genetic disorder called Alport syndrome. He began dialysis when he was 11.

Dhearth’s father, Diego, recalls the moment he received the news that his son matched with a kidney donor:

“On Sunday evening, we just got home from church when we got the call,” says Diego. “The kidney transplant [coordinators] from Stanford Children’s said that Dhearth will get a new kidney. My family was extremely overwhelmed with excitement and feeling blessed in God’s greatness.”

Jaxon relates to this experience too; he had been diagnosed with nephronophthisis, a genetic disorder affecting the kidneys. Everything changed for him with one extraordinary act of generosity: the gift of a donated kidney. A stranger, Sarah Best, responded to Jaxon’s story online about his need for a kidney donor. This led her to the living donor screening process and transplant coordinators at Stanford Children’s Health. Sarah became Jaxon’s donor, later affectionately known as his “kidney buddy,” and the pair is now bonded for life.

“She’s from my birth town in Sacramento and she saw my social media story and decided to donate her kidney to me in December 2023,” Jaxon says. “If she was here right now [at the game], I would still be very grateful. I’d give her hugs, thank her, and probably catch up on the times I’ve missed, since I haven’t seen her in a while.”

Standing on the court, hand over heart, the honorees represented not only their journey but the countless donors and donor families who say yes to organ donation.

More than 2,100 children under 18 are on the national transplant waiting list—many in need of a kidney, according to Donate Life America. For those on the waiting list, awareness can mean everything.

Organ donation saves lives every day. And this night, at center court, two kidney transplant survivors reminded the entire arena that anyone can be a hero—by choosing to give the gift of life.

The pediatric kidney transplant team at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford is a national transplant volume leader supporting one of the busiest pediatric kidney transplant centers in the U.S.