Browse Sections

• School league tables

Pioneering liver transplant saves mum

9/ 7/2008

A MUM who feared she would die before her daughter's third birthday has had a life-saving liver transplant - from her brother.

Carol Beckett, from Urmston, was suffering from inoperable liver cancer and was preparing a special last Christmas for her daughter Gracie.

Chemotherapy would not work, so she was put on a waiting list for a transplant from a dead donor. Because the wait was six months to a year - and Carol was  given only a year to live - she faced a race against time.

But then she was offered a 'living donor' transplant from her brother Stephen. Within days, the op was carried out at St James' University Hospital in Leeds. Carol, 38, an NHS manager, said: "I'm recovering well and a recent scan showed they can't find cancer anywhere, so the prognosis is cautiously optimistic.

"I'm incredibly thankful to the staff at St James'. I feel miles better. I'm just living life and enjoying the small things, like taking my daughter to the park."

The NHS has only just begun using living donors for liver transplants and there have only been six adult-to-adult ops in the past year. Carol's brother, Stephen Wood, 46, her sister Sue Strang and brother-in-law Tim Strang asked about the donor scheme and Stephen was judged the best match.

Surgeons replaced Carol's liver, which weighed 11lbs due to the tumours, with the 'left-hand lateral' part of Stephen's liver.

Stephen, an aircraft engineer at BAE Systems, said: "I wouldn't say I'm a brave person and, besides, I felt Carol was taking the bigger risk because she was ill. I was determined to help."

Stephen has recovered so well he recently completed a charity bike ride, covering 240 miles over three days. He added: "My liver has almost entirely regenerated, while the part I gave to Carol is adapting to her body."

Carol, whose husband Steve, 45, is also an NHS manager, was still recovering when daughter Gracie celebrated her third birthday - the one she thought she'd never see.

She added: "How can I say thanks to my brother? He's an absolute star."

You can sign the transplant register at www.uktransplant.org.uk or by phoning the Organ Donor Line on 0845 60 60 400. For more information see www.livelifethengivelife.co.uk.