The results of this showed that I had Hepato-pulmonary shunting syndrome type A, a degenerative disease of the liver that was causing my blood vessels to close down and gradually starve the liver of blood. New blood vessels were being formed but these were by-passing my lungs and going back to my heart with deoxygenated blood and slowly but surely I was gradually being starved of true oxygenated blood throughout my body.

My hepatology consultant sat me down on more than one occasion and advised that my situation was not going to be resolved by drugs and told me that liver transplant was my only chance of survival. He wrote to King's College Hospital, London.

Three months later I attended assessment tests and after two weeks was given the choice to have a transplant. Even though all the lead-up to this point had taken well over two years, the time given to contemplate such an operation was very short.

Two years if I am lucky was their prognosis. I guess they and my GP and partner & friends had made my mind up for me!

My new liver became available by a phone call to me at ten minutes to midnight on my birthday, one present I did not expect that day. I was transplanted the next day at 11.30 am.

My recovery was fraught with many complications which resulted in me being in hospital for three months and then discharged but listed on the re-transplant list as they were unsure if this liver would be capable of doing its job.

Now three years on and no re-transplant, I am doing very well. I have total admiration for all the staff at King's for their persistence and expertise. Huge thanks for all my loved ones for their unrelenting support and kindness. The biggest thanks go to my donor's family for their unselfish act and the wishes of their daughter to give life after her death. Without these acts of kindness many of us would not be here today.

I have much to pass on but if I had just one piece of advise I can give following my experience, it would be….BE AN ORGAN DONOR!