Sharing Sadie’s Sellers' Liver Transplant Story with Tamron Hall

This past month, my family and I had the honor of sitting down with Tamron Hall to share our journey—a story of love, resilience, and the unbreakable bond that has carried us through life’s toughest moments. And, in a special milestone, this was the very first time our twins, Stokely and Sadie, made a national television appearance! Seeing them sit on that couch, smiling, laughing, and confidently sharing their voices with the world—it was a full-circle moment for me.

A Love Story That Led to the Unimaginable

Tamron put it perfectly when she said, “You never know when you are setting out on a love journey where it’s going to take you.” I never could have imagined this journey that life has presented for Bakari and I. What was seemingly a fun and unexpected meeting at a mutual friend’s wedding, where my sister Ruby introduced us. It wasn’t an instant fairy tale—I had my guard up, and I wasn’t looking for anything serious. As a mother to my then three-year-old daughter, Kai, I thought that true love was a long way away for me. I did know that whoever I welcomed into my life had to love my child as much as they loved me. Watching Bakari interact with Kai changed everything. I saw his heart, his patience, his kindness. And in that moment, I knew—this was the man I wanted to build a life with.

Bakari says he felt the same way. He saw the mother I was to Kai and knew he had found the person he wanted to marry. Fast forward 17 years together, 10 years of marriage—as Bakari jokingly called them, “10 long years”—and we’ve built a beautiful life. But like all love stories, ours has been tested.

Facing the Unthinkable Together

A few short years after saying “I do,” we were faced with a challenge no parent is ever prepared for. Our daughter, Sadie, was diagnosed with biliary atresia, a rare liver disease that would ultimately require a life-saving liver transplant. Bakari described those 11 hours in surgery as feeling like an eternity—waiting, praying, hoping. Meanwhile, I was also planning my father’s funeral. It was the hardest, most surreal moment of my life. I tell everyone that I am not sure how I did not have an emotional breakdown. And yet, through it all, we held onto our faith, our love, and the belief that our baby girl was meant to survive.

And survive she did. Today, Sadie is thriving. She recently had her five-year biopsy, and doctors said her liver looks as if she never even had a transplant.

Billi the Brave: Advocating for Other Families

As parents, we know that our story isn’t just something that we went through but it serves a greater purpose if we share our experience to help other families. That’s why we are passionate about advocating for the American Liver Foundation and spreading awareness about biliary atresia through our collaboration with Billi the Brave.

Billi the Brave is a plush lion that helps children battling liver disease feel seen and supported. It’s now in 19 hospitals across the country, bringing comfort to children and families facing the same journey we once did. Sadie even got to record her own voiceover for the lion—another full-circle moment that left us in awe of how far she’s come.

Strength Runs in the Family

One of the most touching moments on the Tamron Hall Show was when Bakari asked Sadie to share the three words she hears from us all the time. Without hesitation, she answered:

Smart
Beautiful
Strong

She is all those things and more. And when Tamron asked Stokely where he learned to be brave, his answer made my heart swell—“From Sadie.”

Tamron ended our conversation with a powerful statement: “Strong men cry.” As a father, husband, and advocate, Bakari has never been afraid to show his emotions—because at the end of the day, family is everything.

The Power of Love, Resilience & Community

Our journey hasn’t been easy, but it has been filled with purpose. We share our story to bring awareness, to give hope, and to remind people that even in life’s hardest moments, love and faith will always carry you through.

If you want to see a peek behind the scenes leading up to this moment, read my other blog post about being a guest on the Tamron Hall show here.

Thank you, Tamron Hall, for giving us this platform to share, to reflect, and to hopefully inspire other families walking this path.