Allergic to general anesthesia, Wisconsin mom receives life-saving kidney transplant while fully awake

Preeyanuch Chanwongwanit with her husband Arthur Lee and their children 1.JPEG

CHICAGO, IL - July 23, 2026 – For Preeyanuch Chanwongwanit, a busy mom of four from New Berlin, Wisconsin, life came to a screeching halt in 2019 when she was diagnosed with renal failure. After school activities with her children were quickly replaced by a demanding dialysis schedule, as the family awaited a life-saving kidney transplant. But when two transplant surgeries at another health system failed, the 46-year-old was faced with yet another daunting diagnosis – an allergy to general anesthesia.

“This is one of the most bizarre stories I’ve ever heard,” said Vinayak Rohan, MD, a transplant surgeon at Northwestern Medicine. “This patient had two previous attempts at kidney transplantation at another health system but went into cardiac arrest on the table before the surgeries could even start.”

The discovery of Chanwongwanit’s allergy by her care team in Wisconsin meant a third attempt at a kidney transplant would be complicated, as she could not undergo general anesthesia. Out of options, her care team reached out to Northwestern Medicine’s AWAKE Program (Accelerated Surgery Without General Anesthesia in Kidney Transplantation), which offers select patients a chance to remain awake through their kidney transplant.

Instead of using general anesthesia, a spinal anesthesia shot is given to the patient, similar to what’s used during a cesarean section for childbirth. It involves injecting a local anesthetic into spinal fluid and numbing the lower half of the body while allowing the patient to remain conscious.

“The AWAKE Program was built for patients like Preeyanuch. When her medical team in Wisconsin called us, they said, ‘we know Northwestern Medicine is the only place that can help her,’” said Satish Nadig, MD, PhD, transplant surgeon and director of the Northwestern Medicine Comprehensive Transplant Center. “To date, we’ve performed 25 kidney transplant procedures where the patient is fully awake, and Preeyanuch is our first patient from Wisconsin. The AWAKE Program represents our commitment to continuously reimagine what is possible in transplant care. We’re incredibly proud to offer this innovation and deeply grateful for the opportunity to help patients like Preeyanuch.”

Awake kidney - Dr. Nadig and Dr. Rohan

Redefining what is possible for patient care

After her two unsuccessful transplant attempts at another health system, Chanwongwanit was running low on hope. But after meeting Dr. Rohan and his team at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chanwongwanit’s husband, Arthur Lee, said everything changed.

“Dr. Rohan explained to us how the surgery would work, and we immediately felt more comfortable knowing general anesthesia wasn’t part of the plan,” said Lee. “As a husband and father, you want to see your loved one happy and healthy, and the AWAKE Program gave us confidence from day one. What could have been another stressful experience turned into one filled with reassurance.”

On May 25, Chanwongwanit received a kidney from a deceased donor at Northwestern Memorial, and despite giving birth to four children, Chanwongwanit had her first experience with an epidural.

“All four of my deliveries were natural births, so this was my first time having an epidural,” said Chanwongwanit. “I was completely alert on the operating room table, went through the transplant without any complications, didn’t experience any pain, and went home 36 hours after surgery. I felt supported by my care team every step of the way and would highly recommend the AWAKE Program to other patients.”

“At Northwestern Medicine, we’re always looking for new ways to make transplantation safer, more accessible and less burdensome for patients. Through our AWAKE Program, we’re helping people experience a smoother recovery while delivering the same world-class transplant care,” said Dr. Rohan. “Our team is honored to be part of these extraordinary journeys and to help patients achieve the best possible outcomes as they begin a new chapter in their lives.”

Preeyanuch Chanwongwanit with her husband Arthur Lee and their children 2

Back to being mom

Two months after the transplant, Chanwongwanit’s new kidney is functioning as it should, allowing her to get back to the things that matter most. The children’s music and sport schedules have begun to replace dialysis, allowing the family to finally begin their long-awaited fresh start.

“Instead of living life from the sidelines, I can now be there for my four children every day – celebrating milestones and making memories. I also miss my parents who live in Thailand, so I’d love to visit them soon,” said Chanwongwanit. “I’m so grateful to my organ donor and the incredible team at Northwestern Medicine for giving me a second chance at life. With my new kidney, anything is possible.”