DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — WAND first met Kelly Springman in February 2024. The mother from Decatur had non-alcoholic cirrhosis and was in urgent need of a liver transplant.
Springmann was first diagnosed with fatty liver disease at age 28. Health issues plagued him throughout his 20s, 30s and 40s, leaving him feeling constantly fatigued.
In 2017, Springman had just become engaged to her now-husband, Rob, when she began feeling unwell and was rushed to hospital, where doctors soon told her she had cirrhosis of the liver.
“We just went to the doctor and got tested and they didn't tell me anything.”
Kelly Springman and her daughter, Mikenzie Edwards, embrace each other.
That's when Springmann's health began to decline, and she found doctors at Northwestern University who told her she needed a new liver.
At that point, her family was running the election. Her daughter Mikenzie Edwards created a Facebook page to gain attention. And find the liver in the mother.
“You need a specific phone number, a specific email address to tie everything in with Northwestern,” she said.
Edwards attended Ball State University, where she majored in public relations and strategic communications. She started her mother, LivR4 Mama Kelly, to share details about Springman's health journey and her family.
“I wanted people to know who my mom was and get to know her,” Edwards said.
The page gained momentum — Edwards recalled that at one point one of the posts had been viewed 19,000 times — and Springmann was flooded with support.
“It gives me goosebumps just thinking about it.”
Springmann's story began to spread. In February 2024, Springmann video chatted with WAND News from her hospital bed in Chicago. At the time, she was at the top of the transplant list, but things weren't looking good.
That's when Heather Larson saw WAND's story and decided to help.
“God was telling me, 'Heather, it's okay, this is what you need to do.'
Larson decided to register as a match and underwent a series of tests and scans in the hopes of being the one who could help save Springmann's life.
“Lori called me and said you were the perfect match,” Larson said.
The plan was set in motion, and Larson was ready to donate part of his healthy liver to Springman, but Springman's health had begun to deteriorate to the point that a living donor would no longer be viable.
“Kelly was on the verge of death,” said Rob Springman, Kelly's husband.
Her mother, from Decatur, was on a ventilator and her health was declining, so doctors found Springmann a liver from a deceased donor rather than a living one. It wasn't part of her original medical plan, but Springmann knew it was her only chance at life.
“The fact that they performed the surgery was a miracle in itself,” Rob said.
After the surgery, Rob and Kelly's daughter saw a complete transformation in Springman.
“Once her liver was circulating the blood properly, she looked like a different person,” Edwards said.
But life wasn't easy for Springmann after the operation, as he suffered complications and needed extensive rehabilitation to regain his strength.
Kelly Springman has begun her recovery after a liver transplant.
Although each day brings challenges, Springman said her faith helps her get through the tough days.
“God is number one. He has saved me so many times. He must have a mission for me and my family,” she said.
Though her recovery is still slow, Springmann plans to share her story once she's stronger to educate the community about fatty liver disease, in the hopes that her story will help prevent others from ending up in the same hospital bed and on a transplant list as she was.
Springman wants to thank everyone who has supported her and her family throughout her health journey. Though she couldn't read all of the comments and posts on Facebook, she felt the prayers. Her next goal is to start a fund at Northwestern University for families like hers.
Copyright 2024. WANDTV. All rights reserved.
