Patient Stories

I have worked in in the area of hepatitis B virus infection (HBV) from basic research to clinical science and patient care as well as outreach/advocacy programs for more than 9 years.

I was diagnosed with AIH/PBC (Autoimmune Hepatitis/ Primary Biliary Cholangitis) crossover and Stage 3 liver fibrosis in September 2011 after 6 months of extreme fatigue.

Within hours, Heather and Jeff received the shocking news from doctors: Aidan was in “acute liver failure”.

Most know Bobby Rydell from hit songs like Volare. However, what most don’t know is that in 2012, Bobby underwent a double organ transplant, receiving 75% of a liver and one kidney.

Since the day she was born, Valen Keefer, has faced a challenging medical heritage. Everyone on her mother’s side has suffered from polycystic kidney disease (PKD).

I had Hepatitis C which had been dormant for years. Fortunately a liver biopsy showed that the liver had not yet been seriously affected.

Kaila became involved with the American Liver Foundation (ALF) in 2017 after her friend, Courtney, was diagnosed with liver cancer.

In January 2017, Anne was diagnosed with end-stage liver disease. Over the next two months, she experienced several hospitalizations, multiple side effects and of course, tremendous worry.

Casey’s pediatrician referred her to a liver specialist and after multiple tests, she was diagnosed with Wilson Disease.

At age 12, Sydney Sullivan learned she had a serious liver disease that would ultimately lead to a liver transplant.

My parents were on the next flight to Austin and I was trying to understand how I went from a healthy, 26 year old to being consulted by the hepatic transplant team in the hospital.

David is a two-time liver transplant recipient. In 1997, he received a liver, and in 2007 he received the liver and kidney.