Because someone said yes to organ donation: Sonja’s story of survival and gratitude

Born in 1960 with a congenital heart defect, Dalbey was considered a “blue baby”— a term used to describe infants with poor oxygen circulation that causes blue-tinted lips and clubbed fingernails. “The doctors told my mom that I wouldn’t survive past childhood,” she recalls. Against all odds, she did.

Dalbey was later told she had three of the five congenital heart conditions that are generally considered fatal without surgical intervention: single ventricle, transposition of the great vessels and tricuspid valve atresia. “Two of those conditions worked together to help me survive past childhood,” she explained.

At 23, Dalbey’s life changed again when Dr. Yang Wang at the University of Minnesota introduced her to the Fontan Procedure, a surgery designed to reroute blood flow and improve oxygenation. “He told me there was a procedure that could prolong my life,” she said. After the surgery, Dr. Wang offered her unexpected news: she might even be able to have children. “Many doctors would not recommend pregnancy with conditions like mine,” she admitted. “But I had a healthy baby boy when I was 30 years old.”

Throughout her life, Dalbey remained physically limited. “If I ran half a block, I’d be totally out of breath and gasping for air,” she said. Despite these challenges, she completed college and maintained a full-time job. As she aged, though, her energy waned. “I was tired and slept a lot more than I used to.”

By the mid-2010s, Dalbey was under the care of cardiologists at the Mayo Clinic. A check-up over two years ago brought an unexpected suggestion. “My cardiologist said we should start talking about a potential transplant,” she recalled. “I was very surprised — I didn’t know that was even a possibility.”

Further evaluations revealed that her heart condition had severely impacted her liver, prompting her to be listed for both a heart and liver transplant in September 2023. Just a week later, her mother passed away. “It was a very difficult time for me,” Dalbey said.

Two months later, she was feeling especially weak and breathless at a follow-up appointment. “I told the doctor I was not feeling well,” she said. Hospitalized and placed on IV medication to improve her blood flow, her transplant priority was increased.

Almost two months later, she received the call that would change her life. “The doctor had accepted a heart and liver on my behalf,” she remembered. “I’ll never forget how happy we were!”

She happened to be on a Zoom call with a support group for transplant patients when she got the news. “They were all so happy for us,” she said. After spending 27 days in ICU and 108 days total in the hospital, Dalbey began the long road to recovery.

Recovery, while difficult, brought milestones she had never imagined. “The first time I went up a small hill without stopping to catch my breath was amazing,” she shared. “I can now walk up hills and stairs without stopping!”

When asked by her physical therapist about her goals, her answer was simple: “I said I wanted to be able to run. They asked if I meant a 5K. I said I just wanted to run one block.” After she achieved that goal, the experience was life-changing. “I took a deep breath and was amazed how good it felt!”

Dalbey credits her survival to the care she received from her medical teams at the University of Minnesota and Mayo Clinic, as well as to the generosity of her organ donors. “Without them, I would not be alive,” she said. “They have given me a second chance at life.”

Dalbey adds: “I would like to thank my husband who was with me in Rochester every day for 5 months and was my caregiver, helping me with everything. He was with me the entire time throughout my transplant journey.”

Now, she’s passionate about helping others facing similar journeys. “I want to help families who are going through struggles with needing a transplant or adjusting to congenital heart disease.”

Organ donation has always been close to Dalbey’s heart—her stepfather received a heart transplant and lived for over 28 more years. “We were able to spend so much more time with him,” she said. “He got to see his grandchildren come into the world.”

As someone who’s been on the donor registry for most of her life, Dalbey hopes others will consider doing the same. “There are so many of us out there who wouldn’t be here without our donors. Because of the generosity of my organ donors and their families, I have been given the gift of life.”

To learn more and join the organ donor registry, visit life-source.org/register.