Friends and family share Wyoming County woman's need for a liver donor

Theresa Kehl of Bliss, NY, received a diagnosis of severe liver disease last year. The mother of five was a music teacher for 30 years. She remains active in church and health programs serving Wyoming County. Theresa needs a liver transplant and her friends and family are spreading the word, hoping that a living donor will come forward.

“Without a transplant, I lose my mom,” said her daughter Sophia. “Right now our only hope is to find a donor.”

Theresa is working with UR Medicine's transplant program at Strong Memorial Hospital. She has A+ blood type. Donors with A+ and A- are preferred. O+ and O- are compatible.

A lifelong Western New Yorker, Theresa has performed as a musician and served as music director for musical theatre, from high school to professional summer stock shows. Theresa has found joy in many church activities, teaching Faith Formation and Confirmation as well as being a youth leader and performing music for services.

Theresa enjoys baking and cooking. “I love animals and have enjoyed caring for baby goats and all sorts on our menagerie, as well as gardening,” she said. “I adore animals and small children - can’t wait for grandchildren! We have rescued lots of kittens that ‘appear’ in our barn.”

Theresa learned about her liver problems in 2024. “Since then, there is no part of my life unaffected,” she said. “So many doctors, procedures, hospitalizations with the anxiety of wondering what will go wrong next.”

Among other symptoms, she is dealing with fatigue and difficulty in mobility due to swelling. “Theresa has always been strong, and this illness has pushed the limits and yet she finds the inner strength to move on even when she is low on blood or just fatigued,” said her husband, Mark.

“When they first talked about transplant, it seemed a remote possibility, as they were trying every means possible to ‘fix’ it,” Theresa explained. “I found out we were out of solutions and that transplant was all that was left on a Zoom appointment with my hepatologist. It was a little unreal but hopeful, and I know I am under the best of care. Now, I need a donor to save my life.”

“I pray for a donor match so she won’t have to suffer as she does,” said Mark. “I also hope we can have more time together watching our family grow and continuing to share the things we love.”

Theresa’s kindness and caring are among the reasons her father, A. David Hurd, has always been proud of her. “Theresa is a most loving and deserving person who does everything in her power to help anyone around her and now needs someone like her to do something for her,” he said.

“She is the type to invite anyone into our home and feed them a warm meal or give them a place to stay,” added Sophia.

“I’ve always been proud of my daughter’s accomplishments and have loved her more than she knew,” said Theresa’s mom, Vera. “She is an amazing daughter, wife, mother and beloved friend to many. Please help to continue her life.”

“My mom inspires me especially right now, with everything she is going through with her health, she still stays positive and has a great outlook on life,” said Sophia.

Private and confidential inquiries can be made directly to the University of Rochester transplant center at 585-275-5875. Theresa’s coordinator is Collette. The Living Donor coordinator is Erinn.

“If you or someone you know is looking to help save a life, this is your chance,” said Sophia.

Family members had hoped that one of them would be a match for Theresa. Her brother Todd was ready to become a living donor, but was eventually ruled out during the testing process.

“Being tested by the expert team at UR Strong Memorial was extremely informative about my own health (physical, emotional and mental),” said Todd. “An incredible team who has worked closely together for a very long time built complete trust in the process and in their final decision to proceed or not. Whereas I never waivered from wanting to donate, the process made me think of all possible risks to make an informed decision. It made me value the people I love and tell them so and improved my communication and relationships with them.”

Todd was unable to become a living donor but encourages others to consider it. “You are doing a really huge thing, so regardless of outcome or even your compassion for the recipient it will most likely be an enriching and positive experience for you personally."

"The care that the team takes to ensure your safety, awareness, and trust is really incredible," Todd added. "As the outcome of my assessment proved, they will take absolute minimum chances with your life as a living donor. The need for living donors is profound. Only people with very advanced stage liver disease can be prioritized to receive from a deceased donor, and by then it is often too late with more risks. As explained to my wife and I by the chief surgeon, there is a tremendous need for living donors for people with advanced liver disease such as my sister, who has seriously failed health but with a chance for a much better outcome.”