Sarah Hyland: Kidney Dysplasia, Transplants, and Career

When millions of viewers watched Sarah Hyland play the ditzy but lovable Haley Dunphy on Modern Family, few knew she was quietly managing a chronic kidney disease that would require two transplants and a dozen surgeries. Her journey from a childhood diagnosis to balancing dialysis with sitcom filming offers a rare look at resilience behind the laugh track.

Age: 34 (born November 24, 1990) · Height: 5’2″ (1.57 m) · Net worth: $12 million · Spouse: Wells Adams (married 2022) · Children: None

What was Sarah Hyland diagnosed with?

Kidney Dysplasia and Transplant History

Sarah Hyland was born with kidney dysplasia, a congenital condition in which one or both kidneys don’t develop properly. ABC News reported that the condition was known to her family by the time she was nine years old. By age 21, her kidney function had declined to the point where a transplant became necessary. In April 2012, she received a kidney from her father, Edward James Hyland, a Broadway actor (Wikipedia).

Her body later rejected that donated kidney. According to WRAL, the organ was removed in May 2017, and Hyland began dialysis from February to October of that year. In September 2017, her younger brother Ian donated one of his kidneys in a second transplant. The National Kidney Foundation notes that by the end of 2017 she had received her brother’s kidney.

Ongoing Health Management

Even after the second transplant, Hyland continues to manage her health with daily immunosuppressive medication to prevent organ rejection. The National Kidney Foundation reports that she has spoken openly about the psychological toll, including depression and suicidal thoughts linked to her health struggles, a topic she discussed in a 2019 conversation shared by NHS Organ Donation.

The implication: her health journey is not a finished story but an ongoing adjustment that affects every aspect of her life, from career timing to family planning.

Why does Haley look different in season 8?

The Impact of Medication on Facial Swelling

Fans of Modern Family noticed that in season 8, Haley Dunphy’s face appeared swollen. This wasn’t a character choice — it was a real-world side effect of Hyland’s medication. The National Kidney Foundation reported that corticosteroids and immunosuppressants she was taking after her second transplant caused fluid retention and facial puffiness. Hyland said she often filmed while in pain and on heavy medication, and the swelling was an unavoidable part of her treatment.

• The appearance change was unrelated to the character’s storyline — the writers did not write Haley’s health into the plot.
• The show’s makeup and camera departments worked to minimize the swelling with contouring and careful shot selection (WRAL).

Makeup and Wardrobe Adjustments

Behind the scenes, the production team made small but meaningful accommodations. WRAL noted that Hyland’s filming schedule was sometimes adjusted around her dialysis sessions. The wardrobe department also chose looser necklines to reduce emphasis on her face. It was a quiet collaboration between a star managing a chronic condition and a crew that prioritized her dignity.

The pattern: what fans read as a production choice was actually a medical reality that Hyland chose not to publicly discuss until years later.

Does Sarah Hyland have a baby?

Current Family Status

As of 2025, Sarah Hyland does not have biological children. She married radio personality Wells Adams in August 2022 in a private California ceremony. The couple has spoken in interviews about wanting children someday, but Hyland’s health history adds complexity to that timeline. Chronic kidney disease and post-transplant medications can affect fertility and pregnancy risks (National Kidney Foundation).

• Hyland has expressed interest in motherhood but has not announced any current pregnancy or plans.
• Her 2017 endometrial surgery may also factor into future decisions.

Future Plans

In various interviews, Hyland has said she and Adams are “open to whatever happens” regarding children. The couple adopted a dog and share a home in Los Angeles. The uncertainty around her health means that public speculation often outpaces what Hyland herself is ready to commit to.

The catch: the same medical condition that defined her early adulthood now quietly shapes the timeline for starting a family.

What does Sarah Hyland do now?

Recent Acting Projects

Since Modern Family ended in 2020, Hyland has taken on a mix of guest roles and independent films. She voiced a character in the animated film Vampire Academy and appeared in the comedy The House earlier in her career. More recently, she has made guest appearances on shows like Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin and continues to audition for new projects (Wikipedia).

Entrepreneurship: Co-Founder of Sourse

In 2023, Hyland co-founded Sourse, a wellness supplement brand that focuses on skin, hair, and nail health. The brand ties directly into her personal health journey — she has spoken about the importance of nutrition and supplements in managing her kidney health. Yahoo Entertainment covered the launch as a smart pivot for a celebrity with genuine credibility in the wellness space.

The trade-off: Hollywood roles are fewer post-Modern Family, but she has built a sustainable income stream through business ventures and partnerships.

Why did Ty Burrell not go to Sarah Hyland’s wedding?

Wedding Details

Sarah Hyland and Wells Adams married on August 20, 2022, at a private estate in Santa Barbara. The guest list included many of her Modern Family co-stars, but one notable absence was Ty Burrell, who played her on-screen dad, Phil Dunphy.

Ty Burrell’s Scheduling Conflict

Burrell publicly addressed his absence in an interview with Yahoo Entertainment in 2022, explaining that he was unable to attend due to prior work commitments that overlapped with the wedding date. He expressed his love for Hyland and wished the couple well. Despite being seen as a close father-daughter duo on screen, real-life schedules sometimes get in the way.

What this means: the absence was a matter of logistics, not relationship strain — a reminder that Hollywood friendships can endure even when presence isn’t possible.

What is the lowest rated season of Modern Family?

Critical Reception of Later Seasons

By most critical and audience measures, season 8 of Modern Family is considered the show’s weakest. On IMDb, episode ratings for season 8 average around 7.5/10, down from the series’ early seasons that often scored above 8.5. Critics noted that the writing grew stale and that the characters’ arcs felt repetitive (Wikipedia).

Why Did Haley Get Pregnant in Modern Family?

Haley’s pregnancy storyline began in season 9, when her character unexpectedly became pregnant with twins. The executive producer explained that the decision was intended to mature her character and introduce new family dynamics, not to mirror Hyland’s personal life. In fact, the pregnancy was written before Hyland had any baby plans of her own, and the show used a body double for certain scenes (WRAL).

The pattern: showrunners often miss the irony of writing a pregnancy plot for an actress who was simultaneously fighting to keep her own body healthy.

Sarah Hyland’s story is not a clean arc of triumph over illness, but a daily negotiation between a body that requires constant care and a career that demands visibility. For fans of Modern Family who watched Haley Dunphy grow up, the real protagonist was always the actress behind the laugh track — the one who showed up to set on dialysis days, whose face swelled from life-saving drugs, and who chose to build a future regardless. Sarah Hyland’s decision to keep filming through her health struggles became the most real performance of her career.