Sharon Kearns

Liver Recipient

“I’m grateful to be alive solely because of a life-saving gift from a stranger. Here I am, 14 years later, a happy, walking miracle. My donor hero gave me the most precious gift one can give,” shared Sharon, a liver recipient.  

“In early 2007, I started getting jaundiced due to a slowly progressive disease of the bile ducts in my liver. I had massive nosebleeds, bleeding gums and the loss of weight and muscle mass; all symptoms of end-stage liver disease. I was placed on the waiting list.  

I got the call from MUSC, and my emotions were all over the place. Almost immediately after surgery, my body began healing itself. My yellow eyes started to clear, my body temperature began to rise and I was able to walk down the hall to ring the bell that signaled a successful transplant, healing and hope at the end of a long medical journey. I cried for me, my donor and my donor’s family.  

Words cannot express the gratitude I felt leaving the hospital and realizing I had a second chance at life. My transplant allowed me to see my son get married and meet my two grandsons, as well as see my daughter graduate and become an ER travel nurse. These are experiences I would have never had if it weren’t for the generosity of my donor hero.”