John Nicholas, 28, may have set a record for coolest surgery ever, staying awake to watch his own kidney transplant at Northwestern Medicine on May 24, 2024, without feeling a thing.

In a groundbreaking medical feat, John Nicholas experienced what can only be described as a front-row seat to his own kidney transplant, all thanks to spinal anesthesia that kept him pain-free and fully conscious. The procedure, led by Dr. Satish Nadig and Dr. Vicente Garcia Tomas, not only showcased the marvels of modern medicine but also kickstarted Northwestern Medicine's new AWAKE Program, aimed at revolutionizing surgeries by reducing dependency on general anesthesia and speeding up recovery times. Nicholas, who required the transplant due to Crohn's disease, was back home less than 24 hours later, albeit with a slightly more humbled perspective on his own interior design.

Nicholas, who has been battling Crohn's disease since the tender age of 16, needed the transplant due to his kidney function declining faster than a teenager's enthusiasm for chores. The idea of being awake during surgery might terrify most folks, but Nicholas saw it as an opportunity to be part of a medical experiment and, one assumes, to have some bragging rights at future dinner parties.

"I thought it was a pretty cool experience," he mentioned. "I didn't feel a thing and got to see my new kidney before it moved in," he added, perhaps now having a better anything-you-can-do-I-can-do-better story than anyone he knows.

Originally, Nicholas had planned to receive a kidney from his mother, a testament to her undying love and, perhaps, her good hydration habits. However, those plans took a turn when she was diagnosed with breast cancer and was thus ineligible to donate. Enter Pat Wise, Nicholas's childhood friend, who demonstrated the ultimate act of friendship—not just a shoulder to cry on but a kidney to lean on.

Surgeons Nadig and Garcia Tomas performed the transplant with all the artistry of a master painter, albeit on a living canvas definitely more complex than a blank slate. With no need for general anesthesia, thanks to the use of spinal anesthesia, the team was able to carry out the procedure while Nicholas remained wide awake, his internal organs playing peekaboo with him.

The procedure's success sparked Northwestern Medicine to introduce the AWAKE Program (Accelerated Surgery Without General Anesthesia in Kidney Transplantation). According to Dr. Nadig, the program aims to allow more patients to undergo such procedures without the risks associated with general anesthesia. He also noted the significant advantage of getting patients back to their lives sooner, as evidenced by Nicholas being discharged in under 24 hours—much quicker than the typically required two to three-day stay. Talk about a speedy recovery!

"This approach could revolutionize how we handle not just kidney transplants but potentially other types of surgeries in the future," said Dr. Nadig, perhaps mulling over the marvelous implications of hospitals functioning more like a drive-thru for major surgeries.

Though Nicholas was fully awake, his surgical experience was devoid of any gruesome scenes that Hollywood loves to exaggerate. Instead, he likened it to observing a well-rehearsed performance where he was the star, minus the stage fright and with an all-access backstage pass to his own anatomy.

It’s not every day you can walk out of a hospital after a major surgery with just the minor inconvenience of knowing you were probably the least useful person in a room full of surgeons. Yet, here was Nicholas, strolling out less than a day later, probably more concerned about what was on TV that night than any lingering surgical pain.

Northwestern Medicine's AWAKE Program is set to expand this approach, potentially allowing countless other patients to witness medical history from a perspective only a few have had before. And who knows? Maybe they'll start offering popcorn with the show.

For Nicholas, the experience has been one for the books—not just medical textbooks but the kind his friends will bring up every chance they get. 'Remember when John got a new kidney while staying awake the whole time? Yeah, that was pretty cool.' Indeed, the coolness of this medical marvel is likely to resonate for years to come.