A Second Chance at Life: Cirrhosis, Sobriety, and the Gift of a Liver
What would you do if you were told you needed a new liver to survive?
In this powerful episode of Sobriety Now What?, I sat down with Tia to talk about something not many people openly discuss: cirrhosis, liver transplant, survivor’s guilt, and what it truly means to receive a second chance at life Tia Bean origional audio 3-15-26.
Her story is raw. Honest. Emotional. And deeply hopeful.
If you or someone you love is struggling with liver disease, heavy drinking, or long-term recovery, this conversation may speak directly to your heart.
Check out this podcast episode at- https://www.buzzsprout.com/2390237/episodes/18689857
When a Diagnosis Changes Everything
Tia didn’t discover her cirrhosis in the way most people expect.
She went to the emergency room for elbow pain. Routine bloodwork revealed something shocking: her iron levels were dangerously elevated. Further testing confirmed cirrhosis Tia Bean origional audio 3-15-26.
Like many healthcare professionals, she had spent years caring for others while neglecting her own health. She had also been a heavy drinker — and she admits something many people are afraid to say out loud:
She loved drinking.
That honesty matters.
Addiction is complicated. It isn’t always about hating the substance. Sometimes it’s about attachment, identity, history, and comfort. Her drinking was woven into her life story.
But eventually, a physician told her plainly:
If you don’t stop, you will die Tia Bean origional audio 3-15-26.
That moment changed everything.
Choosing Life
Tia stopped drinking cold turkey.
She doesn’t even remember the exact day she quit — she uses her transplant date as her sobriety date. That surgery became the dividing line between two lives Tia Bean origional audio 3-15-26.
She fought hard to get on the transplant list. For nearly a year, she called hospitals relentlessly. She describes herself as “the squeaky wheel.” She knew she was dying — and she refused to give up Tia Bean origional audio 3-15-26.
But waiting for a liver is an emotional rollercoaster.
You’re praying for life — knowing it means someone else has died.
She cried. She prayed. She struggled with survivor’s guilt. She questioned her worthiness of such a gift Tia Bean origional audio 3-15-26.
That emotional complexity is something most people never see.
What “Liver Sick” Really Feels Like
Cirrhosis is not just fatigue.
It can mean:
- Severe fluid buildup in the abdomen
- Weekly drainage procedures removing liters of fluid Tia Bean origional audio 3-15-26
- Inability to roll over in bed
- Inability to eat or hold down water Tia Bean origional audio 3-15-26
- Complete physical exhaustion
She described the long hallway walk to procedures feeling like a mile.
She described reaching a point of exhaustion where she almost said, “Just let me go” Tia Bean origional audio 3-15-26.
Yet even then, she held onto faith.
The Surgery — and Then Another Fight
The transplant surgery lasted 10 hours Tia Bean origional audio 3-15-26.
But recovery was anything but smooth.
She developed internal bleeding and required another 6-hour surgery the next morning Tia Bean origional audio 3-15-26.
Then came something even more terrifying: a 12-day coma Tia Bean origional audio 3-15-26.
Her body swelled dramatically from fluid retention. She had to relearn how to walk. Months of rehabilitation followed Tia Bean origional audio 3-15-26.
And yet…
She survived.
Life After Transplant: It’s Not a “Fix”
Many people assume a transplant means you’re “fixed.”
But transplant recipients live on anti-rejection medications for life Tia Bean origional audio 3-15-26. Fatigue remains. Energy fluctuates. A normal day for others can be exhausting.
As Tia beautifully put it:
“My 100% is not your 100%.”
That perspective invites compassion.
Healing doesn’t mean returning to who you were. It means adapting to who you are now.
Sobriety on the Other Side
Tia reports she does not crave alcohol anymore. Being so sick removed the illusion.
She has also noticed cultural shifts — mocktails, Dry January, less glamorization of intoxication Tia Bean origional audio 3-15-26.
Her husband eventually stopped drinking too. Their relationship is lighter now. Fewer explosive arguments. Less tension Tia Bean origional audio 3-15-26.
Sobriety didn’t just save her liver.
It changed her marriage.
A Donor Connection
One of the most moving parts of her story is her sense of connection to her donor.
She wrote a letter to the donor’s family expressing gratitude Tia Bean origional audio 3-15-26.
She hasn’t heard back — and that’s okay.
But something shifted after surgery.
She feels drawn to the color purple. She senses her donor’s presence. She speaks of “me and Chad” — the name that keeps appearing in her mind Tia Bean origional audio 3-15-26.
Whether psychological, spiritual, or symbolic — these experiences are meaningful.
When you receive life from another human being, something changes inside you.
Growth Is the Best Thank You
At first, Tia felt pressure to “give back” constantly.
Eventually she realized something deeper:
Living well is the greatest way to honor the gift Tia Bean origional audio 3-15-26.
She is now returning to school to pursue nursing.
Because a second chance deserves purpose.
If You Are Struggling Right Now
If you have cirrhosis…
If you’re drinking heavily…
If you feel stuck…
If you feel ashamed…
Tia’s advice is simple and powerful:
Be honest with yourself.
Find even the tiniest thing that brings you joy.
Grab onto it.
Grow with it Tia Bean origional audio 3-15-26.
And if you’re able — consider becoming an organ donor.
One decision can save a life.
Final Thoughts
Tia’s journey reminds us:
- Addiction can be loved and still deadly.
- Sobriety can begin with a decision to live.
- Waiting is sometimes the hardest part.
- Healing is not linear.
- Gratitude grows with awareness.
- And life — even fragile life — is a gift.
If this story moved you, share it.
You never know who might be silently fighting their own battle.
And if you are in that fight — don’t give up.
Whether you feel okay or not…
You’re going to be alright.
