Sara and Michael had been watching their 17-year-old daughter, Meredith, swim competitively since she was eight years old. But it wasn’t until recently when she returned to the pool after months away that Sara watched what she called her daughter’s most beautiful swim yet.
On a regular school day in November, one of Meredith’s band friends noticed that her skin looked yellow and told her. Meredith called her mom at work, and her mom, also a nurse, took Meredith to the pediatrician where it was deemed likely viral as she had no other symptoms. The pediatrician sent Meredith for labs and a liver ultrasound, but she was allowed to return to school. Two hours later, the pediatrician called Sara with critical bilirubin results and instructed Sara to take Meredith to Children’s Hospital in Buffalo. Sara called Meredith’s coach, as Meredith was at swim practice, who immediately pulled her from the pool so Sara could pick her up. Sara took Meredith home and told her to pack a few things before they headed to Children’s Hospital in Buffalo, just in case she needed to stay overnight. Meredith wouldn’t return home for another 70 days.
After ruling out gallbladder blockage, and increasing bilirubin and INR lab work, Buffalo doctors determined Meredith needed to be transferred to UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, 231 miles from home.
“I kept thinking that 12 hours ago, she was in the pool swimming, and now we’re in an ambulance heading to a place four hours away from home,” Sara recalled.
Upon arriving in Pittsburgh, the family’s social worker explained that they would likely be there for some time and encouraged Sara to contact the Ronald McDonald House for housing support. Michael stayed at the House with Meredith’s siblings, Harrison and Alaina, while Sara stayed with Meredith next door, unwilling to leave her side until she was strong enough to join the rest of the family.
Doctors soon diagnosed Meredith with Wilson’s Disease, a rare genetic disorder that prevents the body from removing excess copper. Up until that point, Meredith had never been sick or shown any symptoms. Now, suddenly, she was in unrecoverable acute liver failure and needed a liver transplant.
Meredith was listed 1A on the National Transplant List on November 9, 2025, just three days after arriving in Pittsburgh. And six days later, Meredith received her shiny new liver. Fortunately, because she was a high-performing athlete, her other organs were incredibly strong and carried her body when her liver could not do its job. With her new liver, the Wilson’s Disease was gone.
Less than a month after surgery, Meredith was well enough to join her family at Ronald McDonald House. Although she needed to return to the hospital multiple times a week for labs, physical therapy and clinic appointments, staying at the House allowed her to share meals with her family and take part in many activities hosted at the House. She particularly enjoyed the holiday activities that were offered and the pet therapy program.
“The Ronald McDonald House had everything we needed,” Sara said. “You don’t realize how amazing it is until you’re suddenly in the middle of something like this.”
As her strength returned, Meredith enjoyed walking through the city, visiting museums, and even going to the zoo. Her brother and dad were able to attend a Pittsburgh Penguins hockey game. Later, with help from her transplant surgeon, who shared pool passes for the Pittsburgh Jewish Community Center, Meredith was able to return to the pool for the first time since leaving Buffalo.
Sara watched from the pool deck as her daughter slipped into the water – not racing, not competing – just swimming.
“I’ve watched her swim so many times over the years,” Sara said. “But that was truly her most beautiful swim. I cried as I watched her.”
The Ronald McDonald House remained the family’s home until January 14, 2026, the day Meredith was finally cleared to return home and surprise her family. She continued virtual schooling until March when she returned to school in person to finish her senior year. She will begin the next chapter of her life at Fairfield University in the fall, where she will swim on a Division I scholarship and plans to major in Elementary Education.
