Express & Star

I owe my life to transplant at Christmas - new liver was the greatest gift of all

'I have had a long and rocky road, but I am not a quitter. I fight on.'

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These are the words of a mother-of-four who had surgery on her failing liver on Christmas Day and now faces having a second transplant.

Rachel Day, of Priory Road, Dudley, needs another liver because the main artery supplying the organ is no longer functioning. However, the defiant grandmother has pledged to fight on and enjoy this Christmas, adding that she feels luckier than most.

The 39-year-old had her first transplant on Christmas Day, 2006, because she suffered from auto-immune liver disease.

"To be honest, I don't think about it. I am coming up to my eighth year this Christmas. I have had a long and rocky road, but I am not a quitter," she said.

"I fight on, but I don't let it get me down for the simple reason that I am a lucky person, so I don't let it get me down."

Rachel is not on the list to receive a second liver and no action will be taken until her health declines to the point that another transplant is necessary, though she is on a cocktail of drugs to help her fight the auto-immune disease.

But Christmas Day holds an extra special place in her heart because she was given the gift of life by surgeons at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, in 2006. She has also received the good news that her daughter Michaela, aged 18, gave birth to baby Leon six weeks ago, while her 20-year-old son Andrew became a dad in June.

"This time of year always brings back memories of that Christmas in 2006. Thinking about it makes me happy and teary all at the same time. That Christmas, I got a new liver and, with it, I was given the gift of life.

"The doctors said at some point my body will start to shut down again and then the only option will be another liver transplant. I can get really ill, but I have a lot to be thankful for.

"I never thought I'd be a nan and I was on such a high when that happened. Back in 2006, I was yellow and very poorly. I hadn't much time left.

"It was an emotional time because I didn't know if I would pull through.

"Every year I light candles for my donor and I have written to her family. She is so special – she lives on in me."

Now Rachel is encouraging others to become organ donors and help save lives. The family has also organised a number of events to raise money for the QE hospital charity.

A Black Country truckers' convoy in September raised £1,500 and Rachel and husband Andy staged a raffle where they renewed their vows. A second convoy is planned for next May.

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