DeLynn Lalli

Since the age of seven, DeLynn has worked diligently to control her diabetes. After two very scary experiences with hypoglycemia, DeLynn says that in her mind, undergoing an islet cell transplant wasn’t a choice. “I was really worried that the time would come when help wouldn’t be there when I needed it and I believed that the unknowns involved with having the transplant were nothing compared to what my future held as a diabetic,” she says.

A few years ago, DeLynn’s son, who is physically handicapped, saved her life after she suffered from an insulin reaction and went into unconsciousness. He tried to wake her several times and then got her the medical help she needed. For his swift actions, he received a heroism award. DeLynn’s sheepdog is also credited with saving her life after she became unconscious during a walk in the neighborhood and rolled into a ditch. “My dog went home and stopped at every mailbox before he found a neighbor. The neighbor called a paramedic.”

As DeLynn searched for answers, she saw a brief article in the newspaper about a presentation in Stillwater on islet transplant clinical trials at the University of Minnesota. DeLynn says, “I went to the talk, took the information home, and sent in the forms the next day.”

DeLynn participated in a screening and a full-year process of seeing specialists and preparing her body for the transplant. “In the end, I got three calls for a transplant. Twice it didn’t work out because the pancreas was not a close enough match.”

Finally, in August of 2002, DeLynn had a successful transplant and within six months she became insulin independent. “Since the transplant, I’ve had only one reaction. I could tell the symptoms of low blood sugar were coming on. I ate two lifesavers and my blood sugar was back to normal.”

DeLynn says her family is in awe of the changes they observed.“I have two siblings with diabetes. They are delighted for me. My sons like having a new mom and not having to babysit me. And my husband, who is gone during the week working on construction, doesn’t have to worry anymore.”

DeLynn also says that she feels like she has a new lease on life. “I can drive again and I don’t live in constant fear of losing consciousness. I can lay down on the couch and not wonder if I’ll be able to wake up.” Since the transplant, DeLynn has joined Tai Kwan Do and taken up jogging.  She says, “I didn’t realize how good life could be and how good it is to feel normal.”