Shari Urgently Needs Life-Saving Liver Transplant
My name is Shari Fuertes, and I am a 64-year-old wife and mother. In 2012, I was diagnosed with Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC), a chronic autoimmune disease that gradually destroys the bile ducts and leads to liver failure. For the past 13 years, I have managed this disease with medication and regular monitoring, but recently it has progressed to cirrhosis, and I now urgently need a liver transplant to survive.
This transplant is not optional — it is literally a matter of life and death. I am in the process of being added to the transplant list at AdventHealth Liver Transplant Institute in Orlando, Florida, with surgery planned for June–July this year. My MELD score is currently 18, and time is critical. I will require a living donor, and I hope that one of my sons may be a match. It is crucial that a living donor match is found soon so that my condition does not worsen to the point where a full liver transplant becomes unavoidable.
Updates (6)
September 20, 2026
Day 4 - post opHi my friends and supporters,The last 2 days have been very tough with pain and trying to sleep it off between non-stop visits by hospital staff, but we are both in good hands here so it comes with it.Today I was finally able to have more than just ice to eat. I never thought I would have that much love for jello, but I got some and some broth too. Woo hoo!The doctors said I’m having issues with oxygen. My levels keep dropping and until we can keep it at 94 steadily I still need it all the time.My IV’s have been problematic. In my dominant arm it started leaking all the fluids into my arm and it blew up 2 times the size. Now it’s happening again on my other arm. Feeling like a squishy kids toy with pins all in it!We won’t know anything for a while if the liver is growing yet, but all functions seem to be working, praise god and my surgeons.My son, my hero is doing amazingly well. He is still in a bit of pain but doing great. He may even get to go home tomorrow. We got to visit each other today when he took the walker to my room and we got to see who was faster getting down the hall. He blew me away! Check out the pictures I posted on Shari’s Progress.Peace out!
September 18, 2026
Just a quick update as I don’t have the energy yet to post more.Surgery went well for us both. Day 1 post op they got us out of bed and walking. I got a surprise visit from my son, and later in the day I got to see him when I had my walk.We are both in a lot of pain and exhausted from all the meds. Hopefully tomorrow we will be downgraded to a regular transplant room, but we will have to wait and see.Peace out!
Photo Galleries (1)
Guestbook
April 29, 2026
Wishing you Shari,the Best!!Everything is going to be ok
Ana paula Vedovatto
April 24, 2026
Prayers for strength and healing. Sending all my love and support.
Heather Radcliffe
April 22, 2026
Prayers for you. You are a blessing to so many.
Anita Binder
