The Liver Spot | En Español

Cultivating Community and Language Equity:

The Liver Spot | El Punto de Hígado

.

Meet Our Newest Liver Spot Convenor:  Maristella M

For Maristella, the road to her liver transplant was a three-year journey marked by uncertainty, fear, and the heavy weight of the unknown. Even while surrounded by the love of family, she often felt a profound sense of isolation that only those facing a life-threatening illness can truly understand.

Everything changed on March 27, 2025, when Maristella received the gift of life at UCSF from an anonymous living donor—a selfless act by a stranger that redefined her sense of hope and faith. This experience ignited a fire within her to ensure that no one else has to navigate the darkness of Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease (ALD) alone.

Maristella's inspiration to launch a Spanish-language Liver Spot meeting stems from a deep commitment to breaking down the barriers that language creates in healthcare and recovery. Her heart was moved by the sight of a ten-year-old girl forced to act as a translator for her mother during a medical crisis—a moment that highlighted the desperate need for spaces where Spanish speakers can seek support in their own language.

Maristella recognized that while the medical system provides translators, it cannot translate the "warmth of shared experience" that defines true healing. Following the core philosophy of The Liver Spot Community, Maristella leads this meeting not as a monitored, mandated resource, but as an active, committed community where the patient-to-patient connection is the primary driver of change. By stripping away the clinical coldness of a diagnosis and replacing it with the comfort of compassion Maristella creates a space where recovery is collective teamwork rather than a solitary struggle. The unique purpose of this meeting lies in its cycle of mutual strength.

Having spent over a year on the transplant list herself, Maristella knows that connecting with peers who truly understand the journey is the most potent medicine available. In this "no-judgment zone," she is creating an ecosystem where Spanish-speaking members can express their fears and celebrate their milestones without the burden of a language gap. As she reaches back to guide newcomers, Maristella transforms her own medical journey into a collective triumph, proving that when we support one another, we find the ultimate tool for staying whole.

Join Maristella online every Monday at 5:30pm Pacific for
The Liver Spot | El Punto de Hígado
.

We Do Brave Things Here!

.

---

LifeRing SUD | ALD Liver Spot Support Meetings

The Liver Spot is a specialized community of LifeRing Secular Recovery. We offer peer support from a patient's perspective. Come check us out!

• The Liver Spot — Open to everyone at any stage of liver health. Our flagship weekly meeting is a vibrant community of over 60 peers. This is a space for authentic connection focusing on real talk, shared experiences, and patient-centered support.
  Wednesdays at 5:30pm Pacific
• The Liver Spot | Post-Op — Exclusively for liver post-transplant patients. This unique meeting offers a nurturing environment tailored specifically for navigating the emotional and medical complexities of the post-operative journey.
  Tuesdays at 5:30pm Pacific
• The Liver Spot | XYZ — Specifically for younger liver patients. This open meeting invites younger people at every stage of recovery to share vital insights and resources. This knowledge exchange empowers participants to better understand their medical issues and promote more informed and effective strategies to thrive.
  Fridays at 5:30pm Pacific
• El Punto de Hígado | The Liver Spot en Español — Un espacio en línea dedicado a pacientes hepáticos de habla hispana para compartir sus experiencias, su salud y su esperanza.
  Los Lunes a las 5:30 p.m. hora del Pacífico

.

---

Help us help others. Your donations allow LifeRing to expand our support for all people in recovery.

Thank you!

For other ways you can contribute to LifeRing,
please consider being a LifeRing Volunteer or a LifeRing Convenor.

---