Sarah Hunt has a rare liver disease (primary sclerosis cholangitis) and inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerativecolitis). Most patients with her condition require a liver transplant within 10 years of diagnosis.

Sarah’s story is like the story of many children who come to Shands Children’s Hospital at the University of Florida. At age 5, Sarah was stricken with a painful stomach illness. It was so severe she barely could lift her head from the pillow. Eventually, the illness gave her a high fever forcing her parents to rush her to a local emergency department.

Medical staff determined that Sarah’s liver enzymes were extremely elevated and blood tests ruled out hepatitis. Baffled by her abdominal X-rays, the local doctors instructed Sarah’s parents to seek a pediatric gastroenterologist. Sarah was taken to Shands Children’s Hospital.

The Shands Children’s Hospital play area, funded by Children’s Miracle Network, put Sarah at ease. Volunteers there help patients with activities, such as painting and craft making. These surroundings allowed UF College of Medicine physicians at Shands Children’s Hospital to diagnose Sarah in a comfortable setting.

Sarah is aware of the quality treatment she received. She also knows Children’s Miracle Network helps Shands Children’s Hospital purchase equipment to help keep kids like her alive. Inspired by this, Sarah recently took second place in a school-sponsored speech contest. Her topic was her experience with Shands and Children’s Miracle Network.

Today, Sarah needs monthly blood tests and precise medication to keep her comfortable while she waits for a liver transplant.