Sarah Hyland: Health, Career & Modern Family Life

For 11 seasons, audiences watched Sarah Hyland grow up on screen as the lovable but clueless Haley Dunphy on Modern Family, but behind the punchlines, Hyland was fighting a battle far more serious than any sitcom plotline—born with a congenital kidney condition, she underwent two life-saving transplants while still filming the show. Now at 34, the actress is building a new chapter — hosting reality TV, launching a skincare brand, and returning to Broadway — while continuing to advocate for organ donation.

Age: 34 (born November 24, 1990) ·
Height: 5 ft 2 in (157 cm) ·
Net Worth: $14 million (estimated) ·
Known For: Haley Dunphy on Modern Family (2009–2020) ·
Health Condition: Kidney dysplasia, two kidney transplants

Six key facts frame Hyland’s public profile, from her full name and birth date to her marital status.

What is Sarah Hyland’s condition?

What is kidney dysplasia?

• Kidney dysplasia is a congenital condition in which one or both kidneys do not develop normally — instead of filtering blood, the kidney tissue forms cysts and scar tissue (WebMD (health information provider)).
• Hyland was born with the condition, which affects about one in every 4,000 babies (National Kidney Foundation (leading kidney health organization)).

In Hyland’s case, the dysplasia led to chronic kidney disease that gradually worsened. By her early 20s, her kidneys could no longer sustain her without intervention.

How many transplants has Sarah Hyland had?

• Two transplants. Her father, Edward James Hyland, donated a kidney in 2012 when she was 21 (National Kidney Foundation).
• After that kidney failed four years later, her brother Ian donated his kidney in 2017 (TODAY (national morning news program)).
• Between transplants, Hyland underwent dialysis three times a week (WebMD (health information provider)).

Is Sarah Hyland currently healthy?

• Hyland has said her second transplant was a major turning point and that her health has stabilized (ABC News (network news division)).
• She continues to manage her health with regular check-ups and has also spoken about having endometriosis alongside kidney disease (SELF (YouTube channel focusing on health and wellness)).
• In 2024, she said she is open to a Modern Family reboot, suggesting she feels well enough to take on new acting commitments (People (celebrity news magazine)).

What this means: Her chronic condition isn’t cured, but a functioning donated kidney and careful medical management have allowed her to maintain an active career and public life.

Does Sarah Hyland have a baby?

Is Sarah Hyland a mother?

• As of 2025, she does not have children (People (celebrity news magazine)).
• She has expressed a desire to become a mother in the future (National Kidney Foundation (leading kidney health organization)).

Does she plan to have children?

• Hyland has said she is open to having children but has not announced any specific timeline.
• Her husband, Wells Adams (married in 2022), has also spoken positively about starting a family (People (celebrity news magazine)).

The implication: Hyland’s transplant history adds medical considerations to any pregnancy plans, but she remains hopeful and has received encouragement from her doctors.

What does Sarah Hyland do now?

What are Sarah Hyland’s recent acting projects?

• Modern Family ended its 11-season run in 2020 (IMDb (film database)).
• She starred in the film The Wedding Year (2019) and has made guest appearances on shows like Love Island as host (Wikipedia (user-contributed encyclopedia)).
• Reportedly, Hyland returned to Broadway in February 2025 playing Daisy in The Great Gatsby (Wikipedia (user-contributed encyclopedia) – Tier 3, low confidence).

Is she still on Modern Family?

• No. The series concluded in April 2020. Hyland has said she would be open to a reboot (People (celebrity news magazine)).

What is her involvement with Love Island?

• She co-hosted Love Island USA alongside Arielle Vandenberg for seasons 3 and 4 (2021–2022) (Wikipedia (user-contributed encyclopedia)).

What is TrySourse?

• Hyland co-founded TrySourse, a skincare brand focused on gentle, science-backed products, launched in 2023 (People (celebrity news magazine)).

The pattern: Hyland has moved from the rigid 11-year sitcom schedule into a mix of short-term hosting gigs, theatrical runs, and entrepreneurial work — all of which allow her to pace herself physically.

Why does Haley look different in season 8?

Did Sarah Hyland have a medical issue affecting her face?

• Yes. In season 8 (2016–2017), Haley’s face appeared noticeably swollen because Hyland was in the midst of her second transplant recovery (National Kidney Foundation).
• Hyland has said she was so fatigued before her first transplant that she cannot remember filming some episodes (TODAY (national morning news program)).

Was the swelling due to her kidney condition?

• The swelling was a side effect of the medications — specifically corticosteroids and immunosuppressants — used to prevent organ rejection. These drugs cause fluid retention and puffiness.
• The show’s producers accommodated her health by writing her real-life exhaustion into the storyline, allowing her to act lying down or sitting in scenes.

Why did Haley get pregnant on the show?

• Haley’s pregnancy with twins in season 10 was a scripted plotline, not related to Hyland’s health. The writers wanted to explore Haley becoming a mother (Wikipedia (user-contributed encyclopedia)).

The trade-off: Hyland’s visible health struggles on screen made some viewers ask questions, but the show’s willingness to adapt — and her own decision to keep working — allowed her to maintain her role while undergoing one of the most intense medical experiences of her life.

Did Sarah Hyland and Ariel Winter get along?

Were they friends on set?

• Yes. Hyland and Ariel Winter (who played her on-screen sister Alex Dunphy) have repeatedly said they were close friends during the show’s run (National Kidney Foundation (leading kidney health organization)).
• Winter publicly supported Hyland during her transplant recoveries.

Do they still keep in touch?

• Both have posted about each other on social media after the show ended (Instagram (social media platform)).
• In interviews, they have described their bond as lasting beyond the set.

What this means: The “sibling rivalry” on screen was largely acting; off camera, the two actresses formed a support system during a period when both faced personal challenges.

What’s the saddest episode of Modern Family?

Which episode is considered the most emotional?

• Frequently cited by fans is The Day We Almost Died (season 6) where the family faces a near-fatal gas leak.
• A Year of Birthdays (season 10) shows Phil’s mother passing away, earning emotional reactions (Wikipedia (user-contributed encyclopedia)).
• Episodes that incorporate Hyland’s real health struggles, such as those where Haley is sick or struggling, also resonate deeply with fans.

Does it involve Sarah Hyland’s character?

• Not exclusively. The saddest episode is subjective; no single installment is universally agreed upon.
• Hyland herself has said that filming while exhausted and in pain was emotionally draining, but she has not named a specific episode as the saddest (TODAY (national morning news program)).

The pattern: The show’s emotional weight often came from its ability to blend comedy with real human moments — and Hyland’s own story gave those moments an extra layer of authenticity.

Timeline

Hyland’s life and career unfold across seven key markers, each tied to a specific date or period.

• 1990 – Born in New York City (IMDb (film database))
• 2009–2020 – Played Haley Dunphy on Modern Family (IMDb (film database))
• 2012 – First kidney transplant from her father (National Kidney Foundation (leading kidney health organization))
• 2017 – Second kidney transplant from her brother after first failed (TODAY (national morning news program))
• 2021–2022 – Hosted Love Island USA (Wikipedia (user-contributed encyclopedia))
• 2022 – Married Wells Adams (People (celebrity news magazine))
• 2023 – Co-founded skincare brand TrySourse (People (celebrity news magazine))

The pattern: Hyland’s health milestones are interwoven with her career milestones, showing how her medical journey has shaped her professional path.

In her own words

“I’ve been through a lot, but I’m grateful for every day.”

— Sarah Hyland, in an interview with the National Kidney Foundation (patient advocacy organization)

“About one in every 4,000 babies is born with kidney dysplasia,” the National Kidney Foundation notes.

— National Kidney Foundation, leading kidney health organization

For fans wondering about her health, the takeaway is clear: Hyland is not just surviving but building new chapters — on Broadway, in business, and as a voice for transplant recipients. Hyland’s story is a reminder that organ donation saves lives, and that resilience can coexist with vulnerability.

For a deeper look into her health challenges and how they shaped her life, read more about Sarah Hylands health journey.

Frequently asked questions

These questions reflect common searches about Hyland’s personal and professional life.