The nephew of Vanderpump Rules matriarch Lisa Vanderpump is facing a grim prognosis, but he’s hopeful that a liver transplant can save his life.
Twenty-eight-year-old expectant father Sam Vanderpump, who stars alongside his fiancée on the British reality TV series Made in Chelsea, revealed on the Oct. 27 episode that he has “end-stage liver disease,” according to Us Weekly. As he told his co-star, Ollie Locke, it started with a call from his doctor.
“There is no hope of my liver getting better, and [the doctor] said, ‘I wouldn’t be having this call with you if I thought you could make it through the next four or five years,’” Sam revealed, adding that he’s now due for a liver transplant assessment.
Still, Sam — the son of Lisa’s late brother — told his fellow cast member he had a good outlook in spite of the news. “The way I look at it, I’m healthy now,” Sam continued. “Hopefully I remain healthy all the way up until one day [when] they’ll give me a call, and I’ll go in for a surgery. And then I wake up and I’ll be healthier.”
Sam Vanderpump reveals the struggles of his genetic liver condition
In partnership with Kidney Research UK, Sam revealed a “terrifying ordeal” he faced in December 2024. Per a Sept. 13 Instagram post, Sam lives with “a genetic liver condition”and polycystic kidney disease (PKD), later developing “weeks of flu-like symptoms” and a horrifying asthma attack. He was then officially diagnosed with sepsis, a condition that nearly cost him his life.
Related: Lisa Vanderpump’s Son Max Vanderpump-Todd Offers a New Look at His Life Now in a Rare Selfie
He later became an ambassador for the UK Sepsis Trust, raising awareness with his personal story: “During the first 24 hours I wasn’t responding to treatment, but by hour 48, I started to turn a corner,” he said. “By day three, I asked the consultant if I was out of the woods. She looked at me and said, ‘No, you’re really not.’ That stuck with me.”
Sam said reentering “the normal world was the scariest part,” citing health-related anxiety and PTSD. “You’re terrified it’ll happen again and you won’t see it coming,” he shared after his hospital release just in time for Christmas.
In light of his recent four-to-five-year prognosis, Sam is raising awareness once again with NHS Organ Donation to help thousands in the UK in need of a life-saving organ transplant, as seen on Instagram.
Sam Vanderpump and his fiancée are expecting a baby
Only one month ago, Sam and his fiancée, model Alice Yaxley, announced they were expecting their first child together. When sharing in a Sept. 16 carousel, Alice said, “Life is full of surprises, but this is the best one yet. I can’t put into words how happy and excited we are.”
Lisa discovered the exciting news when she appeared as a guest on the British reality series, according to Us Weekly. Sam shared grabs from the moment of all smiling on Instagram, stating, “No words needed.”
How are Sam Vanderpump and Lisa Vanderpump related?
As Lisa explained in an exclusive interview with Bravo’s The Daily Dish, “It was a very difficult year for me, obviously, with that tragedy, and I’m thrilled that my brother’s sons are with me tonight. I feel like I have the essence of my brother with me because, as your only sibling, it’s been very challenging.”
For Sam, “Lisa really has been like a father figure to me – which sounds very strange to say,” he confessed in a March 30 interview with OK! Magazine.
“I’m not sure she’ll appreciate the manly comparison, but she sees me as a son in that sense, and has always taken that role of authority in my life, making sure I’m making all the right decisions,” Sam continued. “She gives me direction when it comes to reality TV and business alongside my personal life.”
Related: Lisa Vanderpump Left Ken Todd in Tears by Surprising Him with His Son Warren for His Birthday
See more of Lisa’s rare updates from across the pond.
