By Gwen Davis

Think college is hard? The non-stop studying, demanding professors, student loans and crazy class schedules can make any undergrad question why they ever left home in the first place.

However, try saying that after you hear Shelby Hinton’s story. A West Seattle native and recent graduate of Western Washington University, Hinton went to college excited about working hard and receiving a degree, just like any other young person fresh out of high school would.

Additionally, Hinton was a first-generation student, meaning she was the first person in her family to attend college. Being first-generation can make the event of tackling college even more motivating and meaningful.

But Hinton’s experience was not like most others. During her sophomore year, Hinton got sick with the flu, which then seemed to turn into pneumonia. But after going to see the doctor, Hinton learned that what she actually had was a life-threatening liver disease.

“That was pretty shocking,” Hinton said. “No one in my family ever had a problem with it. Being a sophomore, I didn’t know what it really meant to have a liver disease.”

Hinton was hospitalized for a week, and then went back to school, like normal. Everything will be fine, she was told. However, as the months went on, she got sick again.

Hinton acquired jaundice, a yellowish discoloration of the skin, mucous membranes and the whites of the eyes. “My eyes and skin turned yellow,” she said. “That was difficult.”

It made her self-conscious.

“I didn’t want to be seen in public, because people were staring at my eyes and gave me the weirdest looks,” she said. Hinton avoided making eye contact with everyone, even professors.

“At this time during my junior year I was very sick,” she said.

But Hinton’s work ethic and determination did not allow her to get dissuaded by her illness. She went to class everyday just as she would normally. It was her dream to finish college and she would not let anything stop her.

“I’d go to class and didn’t tell the teachers what was wrong,” she said about those earlier months. “I pretended that everything was fine.”

But as the months went on she got sicker.

“I went back to the hospital a few times and had to tell my teachers, but they were all very understanding,” she said. Hinton went on the waiting list for a liver donating. It was a stressful feat.

“When you’re on a waiting list for a transplant, you’re on call 24/7,” she explained. “It was hard doing that while being in college. You have to be able to drop everything at any given time and go to the University of Washington hospital.”

Sure enough, during the summer of her junior year, and luckily while she was at home visiting, Hinton got a call that UW Medicine had a liver available for her.

Hinton got the transplant, and after recovering in the hospital for 10 days, she quickly embarked on the road to recovery, this time for good.

Her dreams of graduating became true.

“I graduated winter quarter and am totally healthy,” she said.

Hinton’s ability to finish her degree on time while struggling with a severe illness was astonishing to her, in retrospect.

“Growing up, I was always athletic and was playing sports,” she said. “Then I went to being a hermit.”

Additionally, Hinton also didn’t have a huge support system in Bellingham, and was fairly private about her personal life.

But despite all the challenges, Hinton persevered.

Hinton currently lives in Des Moines, and is looking to start work soon. She grew up in West Seattle, and went to West Seattle Christian School, Kennedy Catholic High School and Hope Lutheran School.

“The experience made me stronger,” Hinton said. “I didn’t think I would be able to go through something like that but I did. Doctors told me that I’d have to take time off from school and stay home until I got better. But that wasn’t an option for me. I didn’t want to miss any school and was very determined to graduate.”

Also, because Hinton was first-generation, she wasn’t only doing this for herself but also for her family.

“I wanted to keep my goal and make my family proud,” she said.

Hinton said she grew as a person because of her illness.

“I’m more empathetic,” she said. “I know not to judge people by how they look. I was judged for looking so yellow.”

Hinton also underscored how important it is to be a donor.

“Change your status on your license,” she said. “People die every day. It might save a life, like it saved my life. People need to realize that just by being a donor you could save lives and it’s huge.”

Register to become an organ, eye and tissue donor today. According to the Washington State Department of Licensing, there are three ways you can register:
1. When you apply in-person for your driver’s license, request that a donor symbol be placed on your card, and your name will be sent to the organ donor registry.
2. Visit http://www.lcnw.org and add your name to the registry.
3. Send a letter with your name and address to:

Attn: LifeCenter Northwest
11245 SE 6th Street, Ste 100
Bellevue, WA 98004