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Waiting for a transplant Lives lost waiting Recipient of a transplant Giving the gift of life

Bethany had liver complications from when she was born. She received a new liver in January 2009.

It was our third call and it almost felt routine, we could have been going to a clinic appointment – until it was decided that we couldn’t get to the hospital quick enough through the rush hour traffic so an ambulance arrived to "blue light" us all the way there. Bethany thoroughly enjoyed the ride and asked the paramedic to open the roof window because she couldn’t believe she was lucky enough to be in an ambulance with the sirens blaring!

I remember carrying Bethany into the operating theatre and being excited. It sounds strange to say that I felt excited as I handed my child over for major surgery but I knew it was the beginning of a new life for her. I held her as the medicine took effect and she went to sleep.

We waited for what felt like forever, waiting to hear that the transplant had been a success and that we could see Bethany. We had been given the opportunity to look around the PICU before the transplant so it helped that it felt familiar. Eloise was fully prepared and we were all able to spend time on PICU, sharing time with Bethany and slowly watching her turn from yellow to pink, starting at her fingers. I took photographs to document the process as it was amazing to watch the change.

Within a couple of days she was given the ok to move to the liver ward where she continued the long process of recovery, from struggling to sit up to taking her first steps post transplant. The first time she walked, the physiotherapist hoped she would manage a few steps but Bethany showed her amazing spirit by walking all the way to the play room and was awarded with a few minutes of playtime. It was strange to see our daughter go through such major surgery, watch her in pain and struggling to get back to being the spirited Bethany that we knew but to look back and remember little details instead of big medical ones. I remember her hair being matted and thinking that when she was able to sit for long enough to brush it we might even have to cut it. I remember her eating her first yoghurt post transplant and crying because it was another milestone. I remember her getting angry with Eloise and being grateful to see her spirit, even though she was also in trouble! I remember her taking her first bath and being relieved that it didn’t hurt. Most of all I remember watching her and swelling with tears at the miracle in front of me.

Despite having a nasty infection during the recovery period Bethany was allowed home within three weeks of the transplant. It was a huge adjustment to move back home. We’d moved so many belongings into the hospital (because Bethany was isolated and the room was her home) that I needed to make 2 trips with a car full of belongings before we attempted to all go home! We were warned to take it easy, let her rest, do everything to get the infection out of her system, keep her safe from other risks and to stay in isolation for three months. It took a while to settle, to believe this was it and we were home and it wasn’t all going to be taken away in the blink of an eye. The first three months post transplant are the most dangerous, when a complication is most likely to happen. After those three months were up we celebrated by going to the park at a time when we were unlikely to meet other people and took the chance to race around and enjoy the freedom.

During the first six months Bethany was described as "the poster girl for transplant" by one of the liver team, something for which we are very grateful. She has had complications along the way. She has needed a liver biopsy due to unexplained rises in her blood test results and she has been admitted to hospital or had extra blood tests numerous times due to infections. She takes daily medication which stops her body from rejecting her new liver but also makes her susceptible to infection and this means we have to take extra precautions when planning daily routines. But without the person who saved her life by being willing to donate his organs, we wouldn’t have the wonderful luxury of being a family together, all four of us.

Bethany has recently moved to a wonderful school who have taken her in as one of the family. She attends church and enjoys participating in dancing classes with Eloise despite still having physical difficulties. We have our new version of 'normal' and we live every day to the full, grateful for the chance. Without her donor being willing to give the gift of life our world would have been very different. That one decision gave us our daughter back, gave Eloise her sister back and gave Bethany the opportunity to have a future. There will never be a day goes by without me thinking of Bethany’s donor and family and being so grateful that words fail me.