Kimberly M.

Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)

It was Christmas Eve 2013. The first symptom of my liver disease was vomiting a large amount of blood. I was told I had end stage cirrhosis, when the day before I had no idea anything was wrong. In fact, I’d recently had begun a new healthy lifestyle-I swam laps, joined a Zumba class, and in the previous 7 months lost 96 pounds. My goal was to become a living kidney donor.

When I was released from the hospital, my diagnosis was NASH, which I learned this from reading it on my discharge papers.

Everything I was told and read about End Stage Liver Disease said I would most likely die in the near future, and one doctor told me maybe I would have a couple of years. My follow up with another doctor asked if I would be interested in a liver transplant. Until that day about a month after diagnosis, I had no hope.

That doctor referred me to a transplant center and I did get my transplant.  Now I’m 3+ years post and never felt better-my healthy lifestyle helped me get to transplant.

I owe so much too so many, and at the top of the list is my donor. 💚💙

Kimberly’s words of advice to those going through a similar journey?

Join a support group, be compliant, and never give up!