Damian

What is your age and gender?

14 and male

What is your liver condition?

I have Biliary Atresia

How old were you when you was diagnosed?

I was born with Biliary Atresia and had a Kasai at six weeks old, which didn't work so I had to have a liver transplant in December 1995.
On the 1st March 1996 I had to have another transplant which was living related (having a third of my mum's liver).
Ten years later the liver failed again so I had another liver transplant on the 18th Febuary 2006. This was caused by Hepatic Artery Thrombosis. It is working well touch wood but I have this low albumin problem which is one of many awkward things I have.

How did you feel?

I felt upset about my problems but I was given the chance to live my life and I have to get on with it and make the best oppotunity of it. My life was saved by the surgeons and the pediatric liver team and I owe it to them.

How were you told?

I was told by my parents and shown pictures of when I was a baby on the ward.

How does it affect you?

When I lost a lot of weight I wasn't allowed to play my favourite sport 'football'. I had played for my school team as the goalkeeper before I had my transplant.

Are you on any medicines?

I take a number of medicines:
Ranitidine, Spironolactone, Forceval, Aspirin, Prednisone, Amlodipine, Sirolimus.

How often do you go to appointments?

At the moment i'm having weekly bloods and having 2 weekly infusions because of my albumin problem.

How are you treated there?

I am treated at my local hospital and GP's with great care. They usually tell me what they are going to do or if they don't tell me they tell my mum so she can tell me. The same thing happens at kings (the food is not very good but I can live with that).

What are the good and bad things about having a liver condition?

The bad thing is that I have to take days off school because of my hospital appointments but the good things is that i've been on some great trips- once in a life time.... like behind the scenes of Formula One, and watching my favourite football team 'Arsenal' train! UP THE GUNNERS!

Does anything worry you about having a liver condition?

Apart from some hospital appointments not really, I get on with life trying to be as normal as possible.

Have you got any messages for other young people with a liver condition?

You are not alone