How Round Lake Beach man conquered cancer and two marathons

For many, the choice between having a lifesaving surgery and running a marathon would easily be a no-brainer.

Yet, Batbayar Tserendorj, a 61-year-old home health care worker from Mongolia battling cancer, chose the harder path.

He refused a new liver that would cure his cancer diagnosis — likely caused by chronic hepatitis B and D infections — to take part in the 2023 Chicago Marathon. Fast-forward to today, Tserendorj again ran this year’s Chicago Marathon — this time with his new liver and cancer free.

At the time, Tserendorj’s wife and two kids weren’t pleased with his risky decision, but that didn’t stop them from supporting him in his journey. Besides his Northwestern Medicine team, his wife in particular is who he considers the reason he’s alive today.

“She pushed me to do it. We are just like one person, I’m so thankful for my wife,” said Tserendorj of Round Lake Beach. “Without her, I wouldn’t do anything.”

Tserendorj only started running because of his wife. His family always has been dedicated to being active, but he never had focused on running.

After being diagnosed with liver cancer in March 2023, Tserendorj felt he needed to distract his mind with something else. Spending time biking while pacing his wife’s running inspired him to try completing distances on foot.

“I used to help her, like a water boy just riding a bike,” Tserendorj said.

He decided to lose the bike and spend the next few months training for the Chicago Marathon, while simultaneously receiving treatment to shrink his tumor. He knew there was a chance the race could coincide with his impending surgery.

“In the back of my mind I was so stressed. When the training continued, my concern got deeper and deeper too. Every day I wondered ‘is the call going to come now?’” Tserendorj said.

That call announcing an available liver couldn’t have come at a worse time: the night before the 2023 marathon while Tserendorj and his family were staying at a downtown Chicago hotel.

Tserendorj recognized the phone number immediately and took the call in the hotel bathroom. He knew his family wouldn’t be happy with his refusal of the liver.

“I’m not proud of what I did … I wouldn’t recommend anyone to do that,” Tserendorj said.

Dr. Juan Carlos Caicedo, transplant surgeon at Northwestern Medicine, has seen only a few of his patients pass on an organ in 23 years. He was weary about Tserendorj’s decision.

“We don’t want to motivate people to pass on organs — that is a deadly choice. He was lucky, but … some people die,” Caicedo said.

Tserendorj doesn’t regret the choice and believes it was the right one for him at the time. He said he felt an urge to complete the marathon and also knew the liver would go to someone else in need.

“The doctors just really, really supported me, they’re amazing,” Tserendorj said.

Tserendorj’s medical team didn’t agree with his refusal, but understood how committed he was to reaching his goal.

“For patients, the liver transplant is the marathon of their lives,” Caicedo said. “He’s a great patient with a very positive attitude. He’s very motivated to work hard.”

Though sure of his decision now, Tserendorj was worried he wouldn’t get a chance at another liver. By luck or fate, he received a call just 19 days later and obtained his new liver on Oct. 27, 2023 — a date he calls his second birthday.

The hardest part of his recovery was the first two weeks, Tserendorj said, but his wife’s dedication is what made it possible.

“Of course, she is my wife, but she became my nurse too … and she’s my running coach and my running partner,” Tserendorj said.

On Oct. 13, Tserendorj ran his second Chicago Marathon and was joined by his wife. Tserendorj surprisingly found the race to be harder this time around, mostly because of his reduced training and a faulty knee.

“Time is not the concern, just finish it, that’s what I told myself. It was the hardest thing … I’ve done in my life,” Tserendorj said.

Tserendorj’s cancer journey and experience completing two marathons caused him to see the world in a new light. Mostly, he sees the kindness all around him.

“One thing I learned … is how people are so nice,” Tserendorj said. “I feel that life is great. It’s just a gift.”