Our Stories

Julianne's Story

Julianne “Montana” Vasichek dealt with digestive issues during her first year as a Division 1 scholarship athlete, playing women’s ice hockey at the University of Minnesota Duluth. Treatment for ulcerative colitis successfully got her through college, but, unfortunately, wouldn’t be the end of her medical journey.

At the age of 25, shortly after starting her career as a collegiate hockey coach, she received a devastating diagnosis: Primary sclerosing cholangitis, a disease that can only be cured by a liver transplant.

After the diagnosis, Julianne left her coaching job at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine to receive medical care back in Minnesota. Under her mentor, Shannon Miller, then head coach of the University of Minnesota Duluth women’s hockey team, she worked as a strength coach and equipment manager for six years until she received her liver transplant.

 

Her health had steadily declined, and Julianne ended up being airlifted to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota after celebrating senior night with her hockey team. “I remember reading from one of the medical reports that ‘Death is imminent.’ That just lets you know how crucial it was, and I had no idea,” Julianne said.

Quotation marks
"Not a day goes by where I don't think about Julianne Vasichek and how grateful I am that she's alive today and what a beautiful human being she is. And I am so grateful that someone said ‘yes’ to organ donation, because the world is a better place with Julianne in it."
Shannon Miller
Head Coach, Women’s Ice Hockey (1999–2015)
University of Minnesota Duluth

Within a week, Julianne received her new liver. “With 15,000 people waiting for a liver the day that I got mine, it would’ve been easy to miss that. The testing process and the efficiency of the companies that work with Mayo Clinic, and the team at Mayo Clinic, absolutely saved my life.”

 

Her story is a testament to the power of perseverance and determination in the face of adversity. Thanks to the support of her medical team, partner, family, and friends, today, Julianne is running marathons and found her way back to the ice as the head coach of the women’s hockey team at The College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, where she mentors and inspires youth to overcome challenges.

Say "YES" to donation!

 

You can give the gift of life to help someone like Julianne. Learn more about organ donation or visit the National Donate Life Registry.

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