after lung transplant
A journey of resilience and innovation
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women in the United States, and the number of people diagnosed before age 50 is increasing. Once it metastasizes, it usually spreads to the liver or lungs, so there are few possible options. Survival. Lung cancer, or cancer that has spread to the lungs, causes the most cancer-related deaths in the United States.
A native of Lake Zurich, Illinois, Wilk moved to Minnesota and works as an elementary school curriculum and instruction specialist as a kindergarten through fifth grade teacher in the city of Bloomington. In his free time, Wilke enjoys running, art, and attending sporting events with his partner and brother.
In 2017, Wilke, 34, thought she had food poisoning, but as her symptoms continued, she was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer, which had already spread to her liver. Wilk was given about two years to live. Treatment included a partial colon resection, chemotherapy, liver resection, radiation beads to the liver, and in 2020 he received a liver transplant from his brother Adam. However, six months later, the cancer returned, this time in his lungs.
“I've been to almost every major health system in the country, and they all said there was nothing more they could do,” Wilk said. “I believe in positive thinking and I wasn’t going to take ‘no’ for an answer, so I inquired about Northwestern Medical School’s DREAM program and they were ready to save my life. I was very happy to see their enthusiastic support.”
Wilk's partner, Chris Withers, is a television producer for the Chicago White Sox, so Chicago was already something of a second home for the couple. During the offseason, they live in Minnesota, but most of Mandy's summers are spent between Minnesota and Chicago. In March 2024, Wilk traveled to Chicago for lung transplant evaluation and was placed on the list the day after Memorial Day. Wilk received new lungs on June 3, and a week later, her condition was so good that she was discharged from Northwestern Memorial on June 10, coincidentally Wilk's 42nd birthday. did.
“During my eight-year battle with cancer, one of the things I always wanted to do was ring the bell to signal the end of cancer treatment,” Wilk said. “Many doctors had told me I would never be able to make it, so when the lung transplant social worker made it happen on my birthday, I couldn't have been more thrilled. I was finally diagnosed with cancer. We were able to celebrate the fact that it was gone.”
