Patient Stories

The Devastating Diagnosis: Recognizing the Signs of Liver Disease and Liver Failure 

Sherry Patterson began experiencing physical symptoms she initially believed were caused by stress. She started feeling unwell and vomiting blood, which she initially attributed to an ulcer or stress from planning a large event. But her symptoms worsened, leading her to the emergency department. From there, she received a shocking diagnosis: Stage 4 cirrhosis of the liver.  

The Wait for a Liver

The severity of Sherry’s liver disease kept climbing, and she was referred to a health system in Columbus, Ohio and placed on the transplant list. For more than two years, Sherry waited for a liver. She was called for a potential transplant but was turned away because she was awaiting mammogram results. Her condition deteriorated, and she was sent home for palliative care, with hospice care soon to come. Her brother-in-law moved in to help take care of her. 

Transfer of Care: UC Health’s Transplant Team Brings New Hope 

While at home in hospice care, Sherry was interviewed for a local news story. A UC Health physician also featured in the news segment contacted Sherry after the interview. They discussed her case, and he recommended she be moved to the transplant list at UC Health.  

Soon after that call, Sherry transferred her care to UC Health. 

Liver Transplant Evaluation and End-Stage Liver Disease 

At UC Health, Sherry underwent a rapid liver transplant evaluation. Her transplant hepatologist and the multidisciplinary transplant team confirmed she had end-stage liver disease, a critical stage of liver failure requiring urgent care. This fast-track evaluation is part of the UC Health liver transplant program, which is known for accepting donor organs that other centers might decline—giving patients like Sherry another chance at life.

She met with the care team on a Monday in October. By Tuesday, she was on the transplant list at UC Health. Her condition was critical, and her vitals were so poor that her family feared she wouldn't make it through the weekend. 

“Time was crucial in Sherry’s case. Our unique donor evaluation process enables us to accept organs other hospitals might reject and match them precisely to patients. This approach gives our patients the shortest liver transplant wait time in the region,” said Cutler Quillin, MD, Sherry’s transplant surgeon.

On Friday, her doctor called with incredible news: they had a liver for her. Thanks to a match with a deceased donor liver, Sherry was going to receive her transplant just in time. 

Transplant Surgery and the Call That Changed Everything 

On the day she got the call, Sherry and her mother were having a final wishes conversation with Sherry’s daughter and hospice care present. Miraculously, Sherry was awake and able to answer the call from her doctor about her transplant. It was a surreal moment. Then her transplant coordinator reached out and organized the entire liver transplant care process for her surgery that night. 

"My transplant team at UC Health was amazing. I always felt supported and was never left wondering about my care,” Sherry recalled.

Recovery and Life with a Transplanted Liver 

Sherry's recovery process was much easier than she expected. When Sherry awoke after her liver transplant surgery, she was amazed to find she could see and think clearly, having previously suffered from encephalopathy due to her condition. 

Physical therapy set small goals for her, which she consistently surpassed. Remarkably, she was up and moving around shortly after surgery and even cooked Thanksgiving dinner just a month later. Her support system played a crucial role in her recovery, and she was determined not to squander the gift of a new liver. 

Giving Back to the Transplant Community and Donor Advocacy

The transplant completely changed Sherry's outlook on life: “Someone lost their life. I feel so grateful. To honor that person, I see things through a more grateful lens.”

With her new liver, Sherry now enjoys life to the fullest, going on trips and attending live music events and car shows with her husband and being actively involved in her transplant community.  

Gratitude and Advice for Transplant Patients Navigating the Liver Transplant Process

Now a dedicated advocate for organ transplant awareness, Sherry shares her journey as a liver transplant recipient with others navigating similar paths. She supports local events promoting liver transplant awareness and helps raise funds for transplant care housing near the UC Health liver transplant clinic. Her mission is to honor her donor and inspire other transplant recipients to live with purpose.

Sherry's advice to those on the transplant waitlist is simple: "Get to UC Health!" She shares her story so she can help others to have the same opportunity she did. 

If you or a family member need a liver transplant and would like to learn more about our transplant program, click here, call 513-584-9999, or submit an online referral form. 
 
Interested in becoming a hero to someone like Sherry? Learn more about living donation or register as an organ donor.