Shelley Fabares Broke Every Rib on Her Left Side & Later Needed a Liver Transplant - Husband Nursed Her Back to Health

• Mike Farrell has been married to "M*A*S*H"s Shelley Fabares since 1984.
• When Fabares suffered a health scare in 1994, Farrell stood by her side and nursed her back to health.
• Fabares is vocal about how her husband made things more tolerable for her and that his support and care brought them closer together.

Fans know Mike Farrell for his melancholic role of Captain B.B. Hunnicutt in the series "M*A*S*H." He was once married to co-star Judy Farrell, who played Nurse Able in the sitcom.

After twenty years, the Farrells separated and got a divorce. They had two kids, Erin, and Michael, who had difficulty adjusting to their divorce.

Farrell later fell in love with Shelley Fabares, a woman he first met on the set of "The Intern," a short-lived series he starred in. They met again 12 years later at a CBS affiliates convention and began a romantic relationship.

After seeing each other at the convention, Farrell asked Fabares out for a coffee date. He also invited her to a photo exhibit of his work around Central America. They dated for two years before Farrell asked Fabares to marry him and wed in 1984.

They soon blended their family, but it was not an easy feat. Fabares once admitted it was difficult for Farrell's children to adjust to their new life. Speaking about their experience, she said:

"It took a lot of love, patience, courage, and strength, but now they have two solid homes, which is what we all wanted...He has become my safe harbor."

Shelley's Terrible 1994 Health Scare

In 1999, Farrell stepped into the role of caregiver when his wife was diagnosed with an auto-immune liver disorder. She needed a transplant and thorough care throughout her recovery.

The diagnosis came after Fabares fell through their floor while their home was under construction in 1994. She broke every rib on the left side of her body.

While being treated for her injuries, doctors discovered that her life counts were high. They stabilized the counts with medication for years, but in 1999, she was diagnosed with a liver disorder, and needed a transplant.

Farrell and Fabares are no strangers to the work and dedication of being a caregiver. Before being diagnosed with the disorder, Fabares was in the hospital for months caring for her ailing mother.

Fabares' mom, Elsa, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, and the primary caregiving responsibility fell on the loving daughter's shoulders. Throughout this time, Farrell supported his wife and asked no questions.

When it was his time to care for her, he did it with no questions asked. Fabares successfully underwent a liver transplant, and he became her full-time caregiver.

Farrell is the first to admit that being a caregiver is a tough, selfless job. Caregivers tend to forget their needs because so much attention is placed on the patient.

It was when his wife needed his time and devotion that Farrell realized what life was all about. People knew him for his work on screen, but at the end of the day, coming home to his family was what reality was for him.

Things escalated in 1999 when Fabares had an esophageal bleed. She was rushed to the emergency room, and the bleed was linked to her need for a liver transplant.

At the time, Fabares thought her time was running out. There was a level of acceptance in her – she knew she might not get a donor in time.

In October 2000, Fabares finally got the green light for her liver transplant. Following the surgery, she revealed she'd never wish the experience on anyone.

Overcoming Shelley's Health Woes

The road to recovery was long and complicated, but Farrell and Fabares eventually made it through. The experience changed the actress for good, and she credits her husband for keeping her afloat.

The doting wife couldn't help but gush about her husband and the amount of love, care, and dedication she felt from him through the years. Overall, she's just grateful for the outpour of love she's received throughout her illness.

"Being married to Mike Farrell changed my life completely," she admitted. "My previous life had to end before I could meet Mike Farrell and move into this incredible marriage, in this incredible world that I'm in with him."

Thirty-nine years since their marriage, the actor remains smitten. Since the very beginning, it was clear to him that there was something special about Fabares. He admitted to being attracted to her since the start and continues to be.

The bond between Farrell and Fabares grew stronger through time. They've always been in love with one another, but going through challenges starting in 1994 made them appreciate and love one another even more.

After getting sick, Fabares realized the essential aspects of her life and which ones she could let go of. When she recovered, she began spending every day with her family.

When asked how she wanted to go out, Fabares admitted that she always thought about death. She then recited a poem she had memorized at a young age.

The poem spoke about what she wanted to happen: she'd ask her lover not to sorrow, watch a butterfly in flight, and count the stars at night if she knew she'd die the next day.

While Farrell and Fabares continue to live their best lives together, the actor's ex-wife Judy Farrell passed away at the age of 84 in April 2023. The three adults worked hard to successfully raise their blended family, especially since the Farrells' children did not initially accept Fabares as their second mom.