Женщина из Иллинойса стала 2000-м реципиентом трансплантации поджелудочной железы в UW Health и обрела новую жизнь

MADISON, Wis. – Laughter is the best medicine for Rachael Lund, and laughter and friendship helped her through some very scary times living with Type 1 diabetes. “Over the course of six years, I had three close calls,” she said. “I did not like those odds, and I was not OK with maintaining the status quo and almost dying every couple of years.” Lund, who lives in Moline, Illinois, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2019 in her 30s. Despite using an insulin pump and carefully monitoring her condition, she struggled to keep her blood sugar stable and lived with the constant fear of severe hypoglycemia. “It was incredibly difficult, but I was so lucky to have close friends who supported me every step of the way,” she said. “They reminded me to laugh when times were tough, took me to appointments if I needed a ride and encouraged me as I learned to use my monitor.” People are also reading… Several friends, a group she affectionately called her “emergency response team,” were connected to her glucose monitor and received alerts when her blood sugar dropped dangerously low. Often, those episodes happened without the usual warning signs, such as dizziness, hunger or shakiness, or occurred while she was asleep. This is called severe hypoglycemia unawareness, when the body and brain no longer produce signs and symptoms that warn of a low blood sugar. Severe hypoglycemia led to transplant evaluation The condition made her a strong candidate for a pancreas transplant, according to Dr. Jon Odorico, director of the UW Health Pancreas and Islet Cell Transplantation Programs, and professor of surgery at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. “We felt there would be a great benefit because a pancreas transplant can absolutely normalize blood sugars, avoid the lows and the highs, eliminate the need for insulin injections and normalize hemoglobin A1C,” he said. “She doesn't have to worry about checking her blood sugars going low in the middle of the night or needing emergency intervention.” A chance encounter sparked a life-changing conversation Lund first learned about pancreas transplantation at a local blood drive, where she stopped at an organ donation information table. The woman staffing the booth had once lived with Type 1 diabetes and had received a pancreas transplant at UW Health. “Her advice was, ‘Talk to your doctor and see if it’s right for you,’” Lund said. “We had an amazing conversation, and she is now a dear friend.” After discussing the option with her endocrinologist in Illinois, Lund was referred to the UW Health Pancreas Transplant Program. The program began in 1982, when the late Dr. Hans Sollinger performed the program’s first transplant. Since then, it has become one of the most experienced pancreas transplant programs in the world, according to Odorico. “Our team has built a leading pancreas transplant program committed to remarkable patient care,” he said. “It’s incredibly rewarding to help patients regain their health and get back to living the lives they want after transplant.” A long wait that lasted only days Knowing a transplant offered her the best chance at a better quality of life, Lund traveled to Madison in October 2025 for a comprehensive evaluation of her overall health, kidney function and cardiovascular health. She was officially placed on the transplant waiting list in early December 2025. Just days later, she received the call she had been hoping for. “I wrapped a couple of gifts, then snuggled on the couch with my dog, and the phone rang,” Lund said. “They asked if I wanted to be transplanted that day. I called my friends and told them it was go time, and I was in Madison four hours later.” A milestone transplant for UW Health Odorico led the surgical team that performed her transplant on Dec. 11, 2025. The procedure marked a major milestone for the program, as Lund became the 2,000th pancreas transplant recipient at UW Health. “Reaching 2,000 pancreas transplants reflects more than four decades of innovation, expertise and teamwork,” Odorico said. “Very few centers in the world have achieved this milestone. Patients come to UW Health from across the country because of our experience, our outcomes and our commitment to providing world-class, patient-centered care.” Recovery brought unexpected challenges After returning home, friends and family organized around-the-clock care to support Lund’s recovery. Two weeks later, however, she was diagnosed with COVID-19 and later transferred to UW Health after additional testing revealed blood clots in her lungs. “It was a very scary time, but there was no better place for me to be than at UW Health,” she said. “The entire team was incredibly caring and supportive. I completely trusted my life in their hands.” Living life without the burden of diabetes Today, Lund is back at work, spending time with friends and family, and returning to activities she once thought diabetes had taken away, including taking long walks with her dog without needing extra stops for water or snacks. She hopes that by sharing her story, others living with severe diabetes will be encouraged to explore all of their treatment options. “It was special to be the 2,000th,” Lund said. “I don't take it for granted. Knowing how many transplants UW Health has performed reassured me that I was in the best place possible.” Honoring the gift of organ donation She hopes her experience will remind people of the life-saving impact of organ donation. “I am incredibly grateful to my donor and their family for giving me a second chance at life, free from a horrible disease that once controlled so much of it,” she said. “I want to make the most of this opportunity by helping others and sharing the message that a pancreas transplant is possible. I hope they know just how much their loved one’s gift has changed my life.”