You probably know her as Haley Dunphy. The oldest sibling, the fashion-obsessed teen, the girl who once tried to move into her college dorm with way too many suitcases. Sarah Hyland spent eleven years playing that role on Modern Family, and for a long time, people just assumed she was exactly like the character. Fun. Carefree. Maybe a little flighty.
The reality? It was actually the opposite.
While we were laughing at Haley's dating disasters, Sarah was literally fighting to stay alive. It’s one of those Hollywood stories that feels a bit surreal once you dig into the details. We’re talking about sixteen surgeries, two kidney transplants, and a level of chronic pain that would break most people. And honestly, she did it all while maintaining a shooting schedule for one of the biggest sitcoms in TV history.
The Modern Family Actress and Her Secret Health Battle
Growing up in the spotlight is hard enough. Doing it with kidney dysplasia is a whole different beast.
Basically, Sarah was born with kidneys that didn't develop right. They grew cysts. They didn't filter stuff the way they should. By the time she was 21, she was in total kidney failure. Her dad actually stepped up first and donated one of his kidneys in 2012. You’d think that would be the end of it, right? The "happily ever after" moment?
Not quite.
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By 2016, her body started rejecting it. Her immune system decided this life-saving organ was a "foreign invader" and started attacking. It’s heartbreaking to think about. Sarah has been really open lately about how that felt—not just the physical pain of dialysis, but the crushing guilt. She felt like she had "failed" her dad.
Then her brother, Ian, stepped up.
In 2017, she had her second transplant. Imagine being 28 years old and having already undergone more medical procedures than most octogenarians. She’s even talked about how she doesn't remember filming certain Modern Family episodes because she was so exhausted or on so much medication. Sometimes they had to prop her up or have her sit down in scenes just so she could get through the day.
Why the "Moon Face" Trolls Got It So Wrong
If you look back at the later seasons of the show, you might notice Sarah’s face looked a bit different. At the time, the internet—being the lovely place it is—was filled with rumors. People were accusing her of getting bad plastic surgery or having an eating disorder.
The truth was much more boring but way more painful: Prednisone.
It’s a steroid that prevents organ rejection, but a major side effect is "moon face" (facial swelling). She was also losing weight because her body was literally failing. It’s wild how we judge people without knowing they’re just trying to survive the week.
Life After the Dunphy House
A lot of child stars struggle when their big show ends. It’s the "where are they now" curse. But Sarah didn't really slow down.
She took a hard pivot into reality TV for a bit, hosting Love Island USA on Peacock for two seasons. Fans loved her there because she was a genuine fan of the show. She wasn't just reading a teleprompter; she was actually "in" the drama. However, in early 2024, she announced she was leaving the villa to focus on some other projects that were calling her back to her roots.
Broadway and the Great Gatsby Era
Did you know she started in musical theater? She was in Grey Gardens when she was just a teenager.
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Fast forward to 2025, and Sarah Hyland is basically a Broadway staple. She took over the role of Daisy Buchanan in The Great Gatsby musical, which was a huge deal. Then, more recently, she’s been starring in the Bobby Darin bio-musical Just in Time. She plays Connie Francis, the iconic 1960s singer.
Seeing her on stage now, you realize how much she was holding back. The girl has pipes. Like, serious Broadway-caliber vocals.
Wells Adams and the "Bachelor" Romance
Of course, we have to talk about Wells.
Their relationship is basically a Gen Z fairy tale. It started with a tweet. Sarah was a fan of The Bachelorette, saw Wells (the radio DJ/bartender), and shot her shot. They got engaged in 2019, but thanks to the pandemic, they didn't actually tie the knot until 2022.
Their wedding was a massive Modern Family reunion. Jesse Tyler Ferguson (who played Mitch) actually officiated the ceremony. It’s nice to know that the "family" on the show stayed a real family in real life.
There have been some weird rumors lately about "red flags" because of their age gap (he’s six years older) or the fact that they moved fast, but honestly? They seem like one of the few Hollywood couples that actually likes each other. They post dorky videos, they travel, and they seem to have a really solid foundation built on humor.
What Most People Get Wrong About Sarah Hyland
There’s this misconception that she’s just "lucky" or that she had it easy as a pretty actress on a hit show.
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If you look at the timeline, her life has been a series of obstacles.
- Abusive Relationship: She had to get a restraining order against an ex-boyfriend (Matt Prokop) early in her career.
- Health Crises: Two transplants and 16 surgeries.
- Public Scrutiny: Being bullied for her appearance while on life-saving meds.
She isn't just a sitcom actress. She’s a survivor who happens to be really good at comedy.
Current Projects in 2026
Right now, Sarah is leaning heavily into her production roles. She’s an executive producer on several projects, including the upcoming Intrusive Thoughts and she's been heavily involved with her wellness brand, Sourse. She’s essentially turning her health journey into a way to help other people manage their own wellness, which is a pretty cool full-circle moment.
She’s also been an advocate for the Lopez Foundation, helping raise awareness for organ donation. It’s not just a hobby for her; it’s literally the reason she’s still here.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Supporters
If you've been following the Haley Modern Family actress and want to support her journey or learn from her resilience, here are a few things you can actually do:
- Check Your Donor Status: Sarah’s life was saved twice by living donors. If you’ve ever thought about organ donation, look into the National Kidney Foundation to see how it works.
- Educate Yourself on Invisible Illness: Next time you see a celebrity (or anyone) looking "different" or "puffy," remember the Prednisone story. Chronic illness doesn't always look like someone in a hospital bed.
- Catch Her on Stage: If you’re in New York, skip the tourist traps and go see her in a Broadway production. Her stage presence is 10x what you saw on TV.
- Support Wellness Brands with Purpose: Check out Sourse if you're into supplements. It’s one of the few brands where the founder actually has a deep, personal reason for being in the health space.
Sarah Hyland has spent over half her life in front of a camera. She’s moved past the "rebellious teen" phase and into a space where she’s a producer, a Broadway star, and a health advocate. She’s finally telling her own story, and honestly, it’s much more interesting than anything the Modern Family writers could have come up with.