Sarah Hyland Says She’s Had 16 Different Surgeries For Her Kidney Condition
Sarah Hyland, who's had two kidney transplants, says her Modern Family coworkers have been part of her support system throughout her health issues.
Sarah, 28, says she's doing well now, but has has 16 different surgeries.
Sarah was born with kidney dysplasia, which occurs when the kidneys (or parts of the kidneys) don't fully form in the womb.
Sarah Hyland isn't about to hide any of her personal life from the world (I mean, the girl recently revealed that she wore two pairs of Spanx to an Oscars party)-and honestly, I'm here for it.
Now, the 28-year-old Modern Family actress is opening up about the support system that has gotten her through her health struggles.
During an appearance on Good Morning America Friday morning, Sarah revealed all the behind-the-scenes support she's gotten from the cast of Modern Family (which is currently in season 10). "They can always tell if I'm not feeling well, even our props guy," said Sarah.
Also supportive? Dogs. "Dogs are the greatest thing ever to happen in the entire world," she said. "Dogs are amazing, they really get me through a lot."
Sarah's health issues stem from a condition called kidney dysplasia, which occurs when the internal structures of one or both kidneys don't develop normally before birth, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).
Because of her condition, Sarah's had 16 different surgeries, many of them when she was younger. "Most of the surgeries that I had were before I was four, so at least that's kind of a distant memory," Sarah told GMA.
Two of those surgeries, however, were transplants-one from her father in 2012, and her most recent from her brother in 2017, after her first transplant failed in 2016.
Sarah's also been very open about her mental health. In an interview with SELF, Sarah revealed that she was depressed when her first kidney transplant failed, and even contemplated suicide. "For a long time, I was contemplating suicide, because I didn't want to fail my little brother like I failed my dad,” she said. “I had gone through (my whole life) of always being a burden, of always having to be looked after, having to be cared for.”
Sarah says she's doing well today, but that it takes work to maintain her positive outlook. "You have to actively stay positive throughout things," Sarah told GMA. "It can take a toll on your mental health and on your body, but as long as you surround yourself with the right people and stay positive, you just...yeah. But I'm good."
('You Might Also Like',)
