Elizabeth Wehrle Leaves Hospital After 8-Hour First Quadruple-Organ Transplant at 36
Updated
Updated · WLS-TV · Jul 14
Elizabeth Wehrle Leaves Hospital After 8-Hour First Quadruple-Organ Transplant at 36
3 articles · Updated · WLS-TV · Jul 14
Summary
Four months after arriving at Northwestern on a ventilator and life support, 36-year-old Elizabeth Wehrle is set to return to Montezuma, Iowa, on Friday after a first-of-its-kind quadruple-organ transplant.
An eight-hour surgery on March 22 replaced her lungs, liver and kidney after severe chronic rejection of her 2017 double-lung transplant and cystic fibrosis complications drove her into organ failure.
Doctors admitted Wehrle on March 17 as her condition deteriorated, and the operation was made possible by a donor and donor family.
Wehrle says she is now walking 3 to 4 miles a day and looks forward to reuniting with her 11-year-old son, underscoring the recovery from a procedure Northwestern has described as the first known case of its kind.
This surgery was a success, but can technology soon make organ donors obsolete?
When one patient receives four organs, what is the true cost of a medical miracle?
After defying death with a second chance, what does her daily life look like now?
Breaking Barriers: The First Quadruple-Organ Retransplant in the U.S. and the Future of Multi-Organ Transplantation
Overview
In March 2026, Elizabeth Wehrle underwent the first known quadruple-organ transplant involving retransplanted lungs in the U.S., marking a major milestone in transplant medicine. Her case was extremely rare and difficult, requiring the transplantation of four organs and demanding extraordinary precision. The success of this complex surgery was made possible by seamless collaboration among various specialized medical teams, including thoracic, abdominal transplant, anesthesia, ICU, perfusion, and nursing staff. Their coordinated efforts allowed the intricate operation to be completed in about eight hours, showcasing the power of multidisciplinary teamwork in overcoming unprecedented medical challenges.