“Caring for transplant patients naturally brings me back to my own experiences, especially on difficult days,” Hannah Fleming said

NEED TO KNOW

• Hannah Fleming received a life-saving liver transplant at 8 months old after her family rallied community support
• Inspired by her own transplant experience, she became a nurse and now works with liver transplant patients
• Fleming, who advocates for organ donation, will be running the NYC Marathon for the American Liver Foundation

Nearly three decades after a woman received a liver transplant when she was a baby, she is now giving back to her community in a meaningful way.

Hannah Fleming, 28, was “very sick” as an infant and was diagnosed with biliary atresia, which is when a baby's “bile ducts are blocked,” the Ohio resident explains in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE.

Her condition, biliary atresia, causes the bile to build up in the liver, according to the Cleveland Clinic, it often requires a liver transplant.

"During some of the hardest moments, when it felt like my time might be running out, my parents and family stayed strong and hopeful," Fleming says. "They worked tirelessly with members of the Greater Akron community, raising thousands of dollars for my transplant from activities such as car washes, spaghetti dinners, a silent auction and movie nights, and doing everything they could for me while I was living on borrowed time."

Just as her time gap for a liver transplant was about to run out, Fleming's parents encouraged doctors at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center to let her stay "one more night in the hospital before the long drive home with a sick child."

The doctors agreed, and good news soon followed.

"A call came through saying they found a liver for me! The next morning, I was taken to surgery and received my liver transplant at just 8 months old," she says.

Fleming recovered from the transplant "quickly" and adjusted smoothly into normal life, save for a scar and some required medications.

"Growing up, my parents were always open about what I had gone through, sharing their experiences and the role our family and friends played in supporting us," she explains. "From a very young age, I learned my medical history, understood my medication schedule, and recognized the importance of consistency. My transplant was an incredibly stressful time — not only for my parents, but also for my sister, who was just 5 years old. While caring for me during my illness, my parents were also raising and supporting my sister through it all."

Because of this transparency about her medical condition and history, Fleming felt inspired to pursue a career as a nurse. She began on the post-operative surgical floor at Cleveland Clinic's Akron General Hospital.

She later transitioned to the operating room and discovered that she found surgery "fascinating and truly believed I had found my specialty."

Fleming says, "Shortly after transferring my own post-transplant care to Cleveland Clinic, I began receiving emails about the liver transplant team and open positions at their main campus in Cleveland. I decided to pursue the opportunity, not realizing at the time that it would become one of the most meaningful decisions of my life."

She now works as a registered nurse (RN, BSN, MSN). While there are days that are both "very personal" and "challenging," she wouldn't trade it for the world.

"Caring for transplant patients naturally brings me back to my own experiences, especially on difficult days. What helps me move through those moments is remembering the perspective I've gained from having been on the other side. I try to ground myself in the fact that I can use that experience to better support my patients," she says.

Fleming also leans on her "amazing colleagues" during any tough moments.

After being with the team for over a year, Fleming had a powerful moment where she decided to share the story of her liver transplant with a patient.

"They were feeling a mix of emotions — happy, stressed, overwhelmed — all the things you would expect before a major surgery. I spent some time talking with them, trying to ease their mind, but I felt compelled to share my own experience," she explains.

She adds, "When I told them that I had also received a liver transplant, their face instantly lit up. You could see a sense of relief and comfort come over them, even if just for a moment. In that instant, I knew I was exactly where I was meant to be, doing exactly what I was meant to do."

Outside of her job, Fleming continues to focus on the importance of organ donation and how it can save lives. She frequently volunteers with LifeBanc, and she is planning to run the New York City Marathon in November on behalf of the American Liver Foundation.

"This race is about so much more than miles for me. It's about pushing past fear, challenging myself, and honoring the strength of those still waiting for their second chance," Fleming says. "When I think about the families waiting for that life-changing call every day, running 26.2 miles doesn't feel so scary after all."

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Fleming continues, "The race weekend will also mark a deeply meaningful milestone for me — celebrating 28 strong years post–liver transplant. I'm endlessly grateful for the life and opportunities I've been given, all because of my incredible donor hero and their family."

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