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So…social media. I have a mixed history with the rise of social media and sharing my personal life. It’s a big stage, and the internet lives on forever. That’s intimidating. You wouldn’t necessarily know it now, but I lived my life as a very private person. I was raised to keep private matters private and […]

There are certain things I’ve learned to live with. Unanswered questions. Tubes and charts. Pleas whispered into sterile hospital air. And now – this letter. The letter I haven’t sent.It’s written. Folded. Tucked away. A thank you to the family whose anonymous gift saved my sister’s life. A letter that aches with both gratitude and

I’ve been thinking a lot about the caretaker role lately.  What it means, who it naturally draws in, and the toll it quietly takes. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been the one who steps in. I don’t hesitate. Whether it’s been with my sister or other critically-ill family members.  I’ve always found

Not all memories from the hardest times are heavy. That may sound strange coming from someone who’s spent years in and out of hospitals, navigating crises, and talking openly about mortality. But the truth is, some of the most beautiful, light-filled moments of my life happened during the darkest chapters. I’ve been thinking about those

So, let’s head back to school for a moment. How much does everyone know about livers? What type of Liver do you have? 1. Healthy Liver (Stacey age 18…maybe 20, maybe earlier due to genetics) 2. Fatty Liver (Hepatic Steatosis) (Stacey starting age 21) 3. Fibrosis (Stacey age 32-35) 4. Cirrhosis (Stacey age 34, 35-41)

Some of my favorite sister-memories have occurred while we were road tripping. These memorable road trips just seem to happen in midst of big life changes for either of us. Our first memorable road trip was when my sister was moving across states from Ohio to Maryland. We traveled in a packed car by night,

Ready for a Rant? I am working on becoming a person with more chill. Before transplant, I could be singularly focused, and I have spent a lot of my adult life getting irritated over situations that I really had no control over. Neighbors blasting music late into the night on a Tuesday. Groups of people

Time works differently in the hospital. There are moments when you get a precious hour between blood draws, vital checks, and being whisked off for yet another test. You want just a little space to laugh, to talk, or to have the kinds of serious conversations that only seem to happen when life feels fragile.

I am a sensitive person; I feel deeply about all things and empathize very easily with people. Others feel less, but I do think that carrying guilt is a universal theme for all people. Guilt is a sense of regret or responsibility for your actions or words. This can happen when you think you have

I only had a few days between making the UNOS (United Network for Organ Sharing) transplant list and getting my brand-new, shiny liver. I was very, very sick, and after getting rejected from the list a couple of times, it did not seem likely that a new organ was in my future. I was so