Shelby Jones

Family and friends of Shelby Jones are raising money for the nonprofit Help Hope Live to fund uninsured medical expenses associated with a living donor liver transplant. Shelby has chosen to fundraise with Help Hope Live in part because donations are tax deductible for contributors and will only be used to cover medical and related expenses.

How Did We Get Here?
In January of 2020, Shelby was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), a long-term disease that causes inflammation and scarring of the bile ducts, which carry bile from the liver to the intestines.

Shelby was referred to the Kirklin Clinic at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, where she had the incredible privilege of meeting who she believes is the most amazing hepatologist in the world. For the past six years, she has undergone countless tests, procedures, and hospitalizations to closely monitor the progression of her condition and treat complications as they arose.

At one point, she was even referred to Emory University in Atlanta to be evaluated for a living-donor liver transplant. However, because PSC is such a unpredictable disease—that causes her MELD Score (Model for End-Stage Liver Disease) to continually fluctuate—she was ultimately not considered a candidate for surgery at that time.

Thankfully, her extraordinary hepatologist refused to give up. He continued to advocate tirelessly on her behalf and pushed for her to be evaluated for a deceased-donor liver transplant at UAB, since living-donor liver transplantation was not yet an option in the state of Alabama.

Then, in January 2025, came the news we had been hoping and praying for: she was FINALLY officially listed as a candidate for a liver transplant!

And then came another incredible blessing. Two of her closest friends—two truly remarkable women—were able to be evaluated to determine whether either could become a living donor. What followed was a long journey of questions, appointments, travel, scans, bloodwork, and more waiting than anyone could have imagined. And in April 2026, we were informed that her friend Kim was indeed a match!

Post-Transplant Life
A transplant is not a “cure” for Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis. Instead, it marks the beginning of a new phase of lifelong care. Shelby will require daily anti-rejection medications, regular bloodwork, ongoing appointments with her transplant team, and continued monitoring for rejection, infection, recurrence of the disease (rPSC) and potential complications related to immunosuppression.

While transplantation will give Shelby the opportunity for a healthier future, maintaining the health of her new liver will require ongoing medical care, medication compliance, and regular monitoring for the rest of her life.

About PSC
Cause: The exact cause is unknown, but it may involve an abnormal immune response along with genetic and environmental factors. PSC is often associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Effects: Scarring narrows the bile ducts, making it difficult for bile to flow properly. This can cause fatigue, itching, abdominal pain, jaundice, and infections. Over time, PSC can lead to liver scarring, liver failure, and an increased risk of certain cancers. The severity and progression vary from person to person.
Treatment: There is currently no medication that cures PSC. Treatment focuses on managing symptoms, treating infections, monitoring for complications, and managing related conditions. In severe cases involving liver failure, a liver transplant may be needed.