Montezuma woman undergoes quadruple transplant surgery

​     Elizabeth Wehrle, 36, of Montezuma rests following a quadruple surgery at Northwest Memorial Hospital in Chicago. Wehrle is the first quadruple transplant patient to receive a liver and kidney and the retransplant of her lungs from surgery in 2017.

J.O. Parker
 
   Elizabeth Wehrle, 36, of Montezuma has been given a new lease on life thanks to quadruple transplant surgery earlier this year.
      On March 22 – 23, Wehrle underwent surgery at Northwestern Memorial Hospital (NMH) in Chicago, where she received a transplant of one kidney and liver and a second transplant of her lungs.
    Everything went well during the 8-hour overnight surgery under the direction of Dr. Ankit Bharat, M.D. (lung transplants and thoracic surgery), Dr. Chitaru Kurihara, M.D. (lung transplants), and Dr. Satish N. Nadig, M.D. (liver and kidney transplants).
       Wehrle is one of only seven patients to receive a quadruple surgery done in the United States and the first at NMH. According to doctors, this was the first known quadruple-organ transplant in the U.S. involving retransplanted lungs.
     The surgery became necessary due to complications from Cystic Fibrous, an inherited genetic disorder that causes the body to produce abnormally thick, sticky mucus. This mucus clogs the airways and digestive tracts, leading to severe respiratory infections, breathing difficulties, and malnutrition.
        “I’ve had it (Cystic Fibrous) since birth, but it was not diagnosed until age 11,” said Wehrle, who was born and raised about one hour west of Des Moines. 
        In 2017, Wehrle underwent her first lung transplant surgery. 
       Replacing her liver and kidney during the March surgery was necessary as doctors noted that those organs would not have made it through another transplant operation.
        “What makes my surgery unique is the re-transplantation of the double lungs,” she added.
        Following the surgery, Wehrle and her parents, who were helping take care of her, were living in an extended stay hotel in downtown Chicago near the hospital.
      “Part of NMH surgery requirements was I had to stay within an hour of the hospital for the first three months,” noted Wehrle.
      Wehrle moved to Montezuma in August 2025 from New Sharon. She was able to return home to Montezuma from Chicago on Friday, July 17.
        “I am fully independent and was cleared to drive again,” she said.
     The first thing that Wehrle did after arriving home was have a get-together with her parents, grandmother and her son, Landen, who she had only seen a couple times since her surgery.
         “We just had a nice family moment together,” said Wehrle.
         Landen attends North Mahaska Elementary School.
      “My son keeps me going,” said Wehrle. “He’s 11 and needs his mom. He is my reason for everything.”
        The need for new transplanted lungs and the other organs came about due to complications from her disease. She met with doctors in January and again in February.
      “On Feb. 25, I was in a procedure and I became unresponsive and the doctors put me on the ventilator,” she said. “I was on the ventilator until March 22 when they woke me up to get my permission for this new transplant.”
        And on Monday a week ago, Wehrle said it was her first day to wake up in her home and start living life again without help.
          “It feels great to know that I can take care of myself again,” she said.
        She will have to have follow up visits to meet with doctors in the coming months. Some of the appointments can be done by phone, others in person including trips to Chicago in August, September, December and March 2027.
         Until then, Wehrle, who owns a massage therapy business in New Sharon, will not be able to work for one year. The business has been closed since she has been in Chicago.
Fundraiser
       A fundraising event in Wehrle’s honor is slated for Saturday, July 25 at Prairie Knolls Golf Course Clubhouse in New Sharon.
        Doors open at 5 p.m. and will include live music, 7 - 9 p.m. and a DJ, 9 – 11 p.m., a select auction, 5 – 8:30 p.m., raffle of a Henry rifle and Savage shotgun, (Tickets are one for $10 and 3 for $20), Dr. Spuds food truck and soft serve ice cream.
        The event is being hosted by Kayla Dawley.
        To make a benefit donation or for questions, contact Dawly at 641-660 – 2903.
        “My friend Kayla is amazing,” said Wehrle. “She is raising money to help cover experiences, gas and food while in the hotel. These extra funds will be a great help.”

​       Elizabeth Wehrle of Montezuma is shown at Northwest Memorial Hospital in Chicago with her son, Landen, who was only able to visit her a couple times during the more than three month stay in Chicago. “My son keeps me going,” said Wehrle. “He’s 11 and needs his mom. He is my reason for everything.”

​       Elizabeth Wehrle is shown with the doctors who performed the quadruple transplant surgery on her in March. Everything went well during the 8-hour overnight surgery under the direction of, from left, Dr. Ankit Bharat, M.D. (lung transplants and thoracic surgery), Dr. Satish N. Nadig, M.D. (liver and kidney), and Dr. Chitaru Kurihara, M.D. (lung transplant).

      Elizabeth Wehrle, 36, is shown with her parents, Erick and Deanna Van Cura, who stayed with her during and following surgery on March 22 - 23.

​      A stuffed animal provides comfort to Elizabeth Wehrle, 36, of Montezuma while she is at Northwest Memorial Hospital in Chicago for quadruple surgery. She received a new kidney and liver and had a retransplant of her lungs on March 22 – 23.