Made In Chelsea star Sam Vanderpump has opened up about the emotional turmoil behind one of the biggest decisions of his life — accepting a living donor liver transplant.
The 29-year-old reality star, who was diagnosed with irreversible end-stage liver disease last year, revealed he has been locked in what he calls a “huge internal battle” over whether he could go through with the procedure.
While a transplant could save his life, the idea of putting someone else at risk has haunted him.
Speaking candidly, Sam admitted he couldn’t shake one terrifying thought: could he live with himself if something went wrong?
He explained that the fear of waking up after surgery only to learn that a loved one had died donating part of their liver was something he struggled deeply to process, saying he didn’t think he could ever live with that kind of guilt.
A living donor transplant involves removing a portion of a healthy person’s liver and transplanting it into the patient — a procedure made possible because the liver can regenerate. But despite its success rate, it still carries risks.
According to NHS data, the risk of a donor dying during such a procedure is around 1 in 200 for adult transplants involving the larger portion of the liver.
However, Sam found some reassurance in the fact that there have been no recorded fatalities from living liver donors in the UK — a statistic that helped shift his perspective.
He admitted that before learning this, he was “terrified” of what he might be asking someone else to go through. But now, if someone close to him were willing, he said he would accept the transplant — especially knowing it could free up a place on the waiting list for another patient.
His family has already stepped forward. While his mother is not a match, his brother is currently being tested to see if he could donate.
Close friend Gareth Locke has also offered his support, revealing he shares the same blood type and would be willing to undergo the process if needed.
Sam’s health battle has unfolded alongside major personal milestones.
In December, he married model Alice Yaxley in an intimate ceremony, and just weeks later, in February, the couple welcomed their first child — a baby boy.
The joyful moments came after a terrifying period in late 2024, when Sam fell seriously ill with flu that escalated into sepsis, triggering liver and kidney failure.
It was during this time that doctors diagnosed his irreversible condition — a devastating blow that left him fearing he might not live long enough to meet his child.
Reflecting on that moment, Sam shared how the thought of missing out on his son’s life hit him hardest.
He said that losing his own father years ago made the fear even more real, admitting that the idea of not being there for his child was “terrifying.”
