On Thursday, theModern Familyactress — who was born with kidney dysplasia, a condition in which the kidneys don’t fully develop in the womb — celebrated two years since her brother Ian Hylanddonated his kidney to save her life.
“2 years ago today my precious little brother gave me the gift of life,” Sarah, 28,wrote beside an Instagram photoof herself in a gorgeous navy gown next to her brother.
“Thank you for not only giving me your f—— kidney but for everything else you do,” she continued. “I love you so much @thehotterhyland ❤️ happy Kidneyversary!!!!”
“Happy Kidneyversary to an incredible older sister and all-around badass,”he wrote. “I am so happy that you are living your dreams and have such an incredible year and life ahead of you. You make me so proud to be your brother. I love you, sis!”
Sarah Hyland/Instagram
In order to prepare for her next surgery, Sarahwent on dialysis— a temporary treatment where a machine filters blood in and out, which is typically the kidney’s job — for almost a year. During that time, herModern Familycostars were known to wear surgical masks to protect her fragile immune system.
Immunosuppressants led Sarah’s face to swell, and bed rest meantsignificant weight loss, which prompted painful speculation andpublic criticism about her appearance. Sarah later revealed that those rumors combined with feeling like she let her father down after his kidney failed was enough to make hercontemplate suicide.
Kevin Mazur/Fox/Getty Images
Speaking to PEOPLE recently, Sarah revealed that the unconventional start of her relationship with the podcast host andBachelor in Paradisebartender allowed the couple toconnect in a different way than most do.
“I had all these health issues at the very beginning of our relationship and then I was on massive amounts of painkillers in the hospital FaceTiming him at all hours of the day and night,” she said with a laugh. “He still liked me after that somehow! So it definitely brought us closer together and forced us to have a relationship that was very serious from the start.”
“It was completely not normal, because we were not allowed to do certain things for a while,” she added. “Health-wise, [because of] the surgery, can’t really do it. We weren’t able to have that physical part of the relationship like you normally have in the beginning, so that bonded us on an emotional and intellectual level much faster.”
Sarah Hyland.Brian Bowen Smith
Now happily planning her wedding, Sarah, who stars onModern Family’s final season (premiering Sept. 25) and both stars in and executive producedThe Wedding Year(in theaters Friday),won’t dwell on her difficult past.
“People who have chronic illness should take the time to say, ‘This isn’t fair,’” she says. “Take a moment to cry and be like ‘F you’ to whoever did this to me. It’s okay to feel angry, just don’t let it be all-consuming.”
And ultimately, “I have realized the benefits of being able to talk about it,” said the actress, who initially shied away from going public with her second transplant. “Not just for on a mental level for myself, but so that others don’t feel so alone.”
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text “home” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 or go tosuicidepreventionlifeline.org.
source: people.com
