Elizabeth Wehrle faced a daunting medical challenge before her surgery. Doctors intended to transplant four new organs in her body. Unbeknownst to her, the operation at Northwestern Memorial Hospital turned out to be potentially the first of its kind in the U.S.—a quadruple-organ transplant for someone who had previously undergone a lung transplant. “I’m incredibly grateful they took this chance on me,” said Wehrle, 36, of Montezuma, Iowa. Seven such transplants have occurred in recent years, but Wehrle is the first known to receive a liver, kidney, and donor lungs again after her body rejected the initial lung transplant and her liver and kidney suffered from cystic fibrosis.
Complex Surgical Procedure
Quadruple-organ transplants are inherently complicated, but Wehrle’s required additional precision due to her earlier lung surgery. Experts note that previous transplants can leave scars and alter anatomy, complicating subsequent procedures. “She had no options left, and we leveraged transplant power to save her life uniquely,” said Dr. Satish Nadig, Northwestern Medicine Transplant Center’s director.
Cystic fibrosis, a genetic disease affecting lungs and other organs, was diagnosed in Wehrle at age 11. While managed effectively until late 2015, she underwent a lung transplant in Iowa in 2017. Post-surgery, she lived a normal life raising her son and operating a massage therapy studio. In January, pneumonia struck, worsening her health drastically. She lost weight, struggled to breathe, and required daily help, ultimately leading to hospitalization again in February.
Critical Decision Making
Unresponsive and on life support, Wehrle’s parents decided to wake her, allowing her to choose the next steps. Despite earlier reluctance, Wehrle chose to proceed with additional transplants for her son. “It was tough before with one organ, but I couldn’t leave my son,” she reflected.
“If surgery failed, at least I’d have fought,” Wehrle stated.
After flying to Northwestern, Wehrle underwent the transplant in two stages. Dr. Ankit Bharat, Northwestern’s chief of thoracic surgery, explained the severity of rejection that complicated second lung transplants. The surgery’s first stage involved freeing up the rejected lungs. Under anesthesia, she remained on ECMO and a ventilator for days with her chest open. The second stage involved placing new lungs, then a liver and kidney—all from one donor. The surgery lasted about eight hours, with organs preserved using perfusion machines.
Waking after surgery, Wehrle felt relieved. “I’m here; I can still raise my son and run my business,” she thought.
Recovery Journey
After rehabilitation at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Wehrle has been receiving follow-up care in Chicago. Her son visited for two weeks, enjoying local attractions. Now walking several miles daily, Wehrle expects a belated birthday celebration with her son upon returning home.
Grateful for her medical team’s effort, Wehrle appreciates her second chance. “The surgery’s success offers hope to others with complex needs,” said Nadig. “Coordinating such efforts is staggering, but possible.”