Sandy Byerly
Transplant Recipient - Organ
My name is Sandy Byerly and I am a liver recipient. I was diagnosed with and received treatment for Hepatitis C back in 1995, but in 2014, my MELD score escalated and my doctor had me get pretested to be put on the transplant list. A little while after that, I woke up one morning thinking I was having a heart attack. My husband Ken, a retired firefighter and paramedic, rushed to call 911 and help me get to the hospital. I was able to get there ok, but soon after my arrival my liver and kidneys started failing quickly and I was moved up the transplant list; so much so that we got the call the very next morning that they had found me a liver.
It was a scary couple of hours being rushed and prepared and trying to contact my family, but before they took me in to receive the transplant I told my youngest son: "I will dance at your wedding."
I came out the other side and was overjoyed to see their faces in that hospital room. Recovery took a while, but I couldn't wait to be active and involved with my family again and that's what I've been doing ever since. And to my donor; thank you for saving my life and filling it with so much joy.
