Elizabeth Wehrle’s Unique Transplant Journey

Elizabeth Wehrle anticipated the transplantation of four organs before entering surgery. Yet, she was unaware of its potential uniqueness in the United States. At Northwestern Memorial Hospital, she underwent a groundbreaking quadruple-organ transplant. This included a liver, kidney, and a second pair of donor lungs. These new lungs replaced ones rejected by her body from a previous lung transplant.

A Complex Procedure

Quadruple-organ transplants are inherently complex. Wehrle’s previous lung transplant made hers even more challenging. Dense scars and altered anatomy from the first transplant posed significant obstacles, said Northwestern doctors.

Dr. Satish Nadig, transplant surgeon and director at Northwestern Medicine Comprehensive Transplant Center, described Wehrle’s situation. She had limited options and nowhere else to go. Using transplant technique, Northwestern saved her life in an unprecedented way.

Living with Cystic Fibrosis

Wehrle was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at 11. This genetic condition can harm the lungs and other organs. Initially manageable, her illness worsened in late 2015. In 2017, she received a lung transplant, allowing her to resume normal activities. However, her health declined sharply this January due to pneumonia.

After hospital stays and weight loss, her condition escalated in February. Eventually, she became unresponsive and needed ECMO support. Despite the difficulty, her parents had her awakened to decide on further transplants.

“It was mentally challenging to face surgery for four organs,” Wehrle said. “But I have an 11-year-old son… I couldn’t leave him.”

The Surgical Stages

At Northwestern, surgery occurred in two stages. Dr. Ankit Bharat, chief of thoracic surgery, explained the severity of Wehrle’s lung rejection.

The first stage involved freeing her rejected lungs from surrounding tissues. Wehrle remained under anesthesia with her chest open. During the second stage, new organs were inserted. The surgery lasted eight hours, with organs preserved on perfusion machines.

All organs came from one donor, though Wehrle is not aware of donor details. Her recollection post-surgery is vague, but she eventually felt relief.

Recovery and Rehabilitation

Following surgery, Wehrle spent weeks at Northwestern before moving to Shirley Ryan AbilityLab for rehabilitation. Her parents aided her stay in Chicago for follow-up care.

Her son visited in June, and they explored Chicago’s attractions. Currently, Wehrle walks three to four miles a day. She’s excited about returning home, celebrating her birthday with her son, and reuniting with her cats.

“I’m immensely grateful to the doctors and Northwestern for taking a chance on me,” Wehrle stated.

Hope for Future Patients

Northwestern doctors view this surgery as opening possibilities for others with complex conditions. Dr. Nadig expressed awe at the coordination required beyond technical skills.

“It inspires hope in making such procedures achievable,” Nadig shared.