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 (2)
April 23, 2026
We had a successful fundraiser this past weekend on April 18th. I want to thank all of you that helped out throughout the entire process. I could not have done it without each and every one of you. We had lots of items and baskets donated that were raffled off, we had many people bake goodies for the bake sale, my wonderful neighbors that cooked food in 95 degree heat, all of the other vendors that came out and worked the event and gave a portion of sales to the fundraiser, the amazingly talented band that donated all of their tips, the Thrillagers that brought about 75 people with them and danced for my cause, and most of all thank you to my friends and husband that worked their butts off to set everything up, sell tickets, shuttle people here, and break it all down in the end!I also want to thank everyone that donated in one way or another. We were able to raise just over $8000 which will help with many of the hospital bills that are already starting to accumulate and we haven’t event gotten to transplant stage yet.I’m still on the list and pray I get that call soon so I can be on the road to recovery, and back to feeling myself again.Thank you from the bottom of my heart! Shari Fuertes
April 14, 2026
Hello my friends! This is my first post here because I’m just now figuring out how to do this. After all of my testing and hundreds of vials of blood taken, I was finally approved to move forward and be put on the UNOS list for a liver. This was confirmed on 4/2.Just this past Friday, 4/10, only 8 days later I was told they found a liver that was my match. I was totally taken by surprise as it was very quick. Unfortunately, the liver was not viable and I didn’t go into surgery this past weekend. Can I say it has been an overwhelming roller coaster of emotions on top of not feeling so great!So I’m back on the list waiting for the next one, or to see if one of my sons is a match.I’m starting to feel like an expectant mother again with my bags packed just waiting for the phone call!I will keep you all posted here as soon as I have more news!
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
