Super-hero organ gives Konnor, 16, another life

Konnor Middleton faced months of illness, worry and waiting for a liver donor after falling ill while on a school trip with Ormiston Shelfield Community Academy.

But miraculously, after receiving a new 'super-hero' liver in May, the 16-year-old from Walsall responded well and attended his first day at Walsall College this month.

Konnor said: "There were times when it was hard and I did sometimes wonder, why is this happening to me?

"Since the operation things have been totally different. We call it my super-hero liver. Without the donor this just wouldn't have happened."

The nightmare began during the school trip last November.

His mother, Vanessa, 39, said: "I took him to the walk-in centre at Walsall Manor and they admitted him straight away.

"They did an ultrasound and saw that his liver was shutting down. We took him to Birmingham Children's Hospital as soon as a bed was free.

"They told me that if he pulled through the next 36 hours, then he had a chance. I was absolutely terrified."

He had Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC), a disease of the bile ducts which can cause inflammation in and around the liver. It often presents without symptoms, but unless a transplant is given can be very dangerous.

Konnor fought his way through the following days, and the process of getting him on the donor list could begin. He was placed on the list in January.

A suitable donor was finally found in May, but the wait was difficult for Konnor and his family.

Vanessa said: "We didn't know what was going to happen.

"He missed out on his prom, he missed his GCSEs - he missed out on a lot."

When the good news of a replacement liver came, Konnor was in surgery just eight hours later.

"The next day he was out of intensive care," Vanessa said. "Within three days he was walking again.

"He's gone from strength to strength since. He has more energy than he's ever had.

"With PSC there's no guarantee it couldn't happen again, but now that they know what it is they can keep an eye on him."

Konnor started studying media and skills for working life at the college, and he is enjoying his return to normal life.

"He's meeting new friends and he's doing something he's interested in," Vanessa said.

"We're so grateful to the donor and their family. It's difficult to put into words really. It's given my son another chance, another life."

To register on the national organ donation list, visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk.