Benign Liver Tumors

Shelby awoke in the middle of the night with severe abdominal pain, and drove herself to the hospital. She was told that she was having a gallbladder attack, but after many days of unstoppable pain, she was back in the ER. A first-day intern said he saw something “shady” on the ultrasound that no one else had seen, and asked if it would be okay to order a detailed ultrasound. That intern was the beginning of Shelby finding answers and saving her life.

Over the next several (very scary) weeks, she would learn that her gallbladder did need to come out. However, it couldn’t, because Shelby had tumors on her liver. She would have to wait to find out what kind. She and her family were initially very relieved when they learned her diagnosis.

Her fight was not easy. Shelby was so tired, and weak at times. Her blood was not strong, and it physically drained her. Getting up and taking a shower sometimes took all of the energy that she had for the day. She had nothing else to give, and Shelby needed her village- family, friends, and coworkers.

It took two surgeries to “fix” her, and she feels so lucky. Just two. Shelby never thought she’d be here. Never thought she’d be this healed. Ever. And never this soon. She hoped. Wished. Set intentions. She trusted her doctors. Followed every instruction fully. Trusted her own instincts. Followed her gut. And here she is.

Life does not give you another chance too often. With organ and tissue donation, you can be giving that gift. Shelby thinks all the time of her gifts that she has in her life. How she’s choosing to share them. How she’s making everything she can with them. And how her life is the biggest gift of all. Shelby is sharing that gift as much as she can.