A Story of Courage, Community, and Care

For his entire life, Mitchel Horne lived in the shadow of Alpha‑1 antitrypsin deficiency, a rare genetic condition that slowly destroys the liver. His family knew a transplant would someday be part of his story, they just hoped that day would come far into the future.

About four years ago, Mitchel’s health began to unravel. Fluid would fill his abdomen so quickly and painfully that there were times he couldn’t see his feet. He was exhausted, uncomfortable, and made weekly trips to Duluth for paracentesis, a procedure that drains the fluid so he could breathe, move, and simply get through the day. 

“It was tiring,” he said. “I didn’t realize I could get the procedure done here.”

When Mitchel learned Rainy Lake Medical Center offered paracentesis, everything changed, not only the travel, but the way he felt cared for.

“I was taken care of here,” he said. “These people care about me. They know me and my family.”

What he found at RLMC wasn’t just convenience. It was connection, nurses who knew his routines, providers who watched closely for changes, staff who asked about his kids, his comfort, his fear. His care became personal.

Each visit was a 45‑minute procedure, followed by an hour-long albumin infusion to stabilize his body. Some days he didn’t feel well at all, but he still came, because postponing meant more pain, more swelling, more risk. And he trusted the people caring for him.

That trust proved to be life‑saving.

Last fall, during what he thought would be a routine appointment, RLMC general surgeon Dr. Rachel Knudson noticed something wasn’t right. Acting on instinct, she walked Mitchel to the emergency department where he learned he had sepsis.

“She saved my life,” Mitchel said. “Had she not done what she did, I might not be here.”

He recovered, but his liver was failing fast. Soon after, he was admitted to Mayo Clinic in Rochester to wait for the transplant he had been destined for since birth. On November 10, 2025, at age 37, he received the liver that would give him a second chance.

After surgery, he stayed in Rochester for a month before returning home to his family, his community, and a life that finally felt possible again.

On February 4, Mitchel walked back into Rainy Lake Medical Center, not as a patient fighting for each day, but as a man who had survived, healed, and reclaimed his life. He came to share his story, to say thank you, and to show the people who had cared for him just how far he had come.

The emotions were immediate.

He reunited with Dr. Knudson and asked her to sign his liver‑shaped transplant pillow, a symbol transplant patients carry as they heal. They laughed, caught up, and shared a moment that felt like a full circle. 

Just down the hall, Betsy Loop, RN, spotted him. Her eyes filled with tears as she hugged him.

“I hardly recognized you,” she said. “You look so great.”

Later, Todd Jonson, RN, saw him too. His whole face lit up as he reached for a strong, healthy handshake, the kind that says you made it, and we’re so glad you did.

These were the people who saw him at his weakest. Who checked on him when he wasn’t feeling well. Who paid attention. Who advocated. Who cared. Their joy was real and shared.

Today, Mitchel is nearly back to normal life. He jokes about the foods he must avoid now, but those are small sacrifices he’ll gladly make.

His wife has her husband back.
His kids, ages 7 and 14, have their dad back.
His family and friends have the old Mitch back.

He hopes to return to work in March, carrying with him a gratitude that extends far beyond his transplant.

“I love that I know people who work (at RLMC),” he said. “Seeing people you know makes you feel less anxious. They know me and know my story. Anywhere else, you’re just another patient.”

He pauses, thinking about the long road he’s walked, the years of illness, the procedures, the fear, the infection that nearly took his life, and the care at RLMC that helped him get through every step of it.

“This hospital and the people who work here are incredible,” he said. “We need it here.”

Mitchel Horne greets Dr. Rachel Knudson, RLMC general surgeon, with a hug.