Sarah Hyland, the star of Modern Family , has been struggling with kidney dysplasia her entire life. Hopefully, the lifelong battle is over now that she has received a new kidney from her father.
US Weekly reports that the 21-year-old star had a kidney transplant last month.
Hyland said:
“My dad gave me a freaking’ kidney!.. You know that family is always going to be there for you—no matter what.”
ABC reports that filming the last season of “Modern Family” was tough for Hyland. The actress said:
“I would be in a lot of pain a lot of the time. If I didn’t get, like, 12 hours of sleep, It felt, like — It felt, like, none at all. You know, if you’re sick, you still go to work. And in between takes, you sit down, or you lay your head down or something.”
The actress started looking for a donor and thankfully, her father Edward James Hyland, was a match. Hyland’s real family stepped up for her in her time of need, but the actress’s on-screen family has also been doing their best to take care of.
Julie Bowen, who plays Hyland’s mother, has been stopping in to check on her fictional daughter. Matt Prokop, who played Ethan on the “Disneyland” episode and is also Hyland’s real-life boyfriend, has also been by the actress’s side.
“(It’s all about) the families that you create outside of your family. And you really find out what kind of people you’re friends with. It was just amazing, and it really opened my eyes to see who’s there for me and who’s not… (Prokop) helps me with my medication and takes me to doctor appointments and all the stuff that I need to do to take care of myself. Any other 21-year-old guy would not be there, I guarantee it. I am one of the luckiest people in the world to have him be there for me.”
Hyland has stayed pretty optimistic throughout her medical problems. Hyland said that her disease, treatment, and recent transplant have given her a new persepective on life. Hyland said:
“Know that you’re not alone. Even though it may seem like it a lot of the time. And that if you ask, ‘Why me?’ Well, why not you? You know? It makes you the person that you are today.”