Bailee

What is your age and gender?

16

What is your liver condition?

I had acute liver failure and my condition is called Wilson’s disease, which means that copper is not excreted properly from the body. If it is allowed to build up it can cause liver or brain damage, which is what happened to my liver.

How old were you when you was diagnosed?

Two years ago when I was 14 I started having cramps in my legs and hands; sometimes it was so bad it made me cry. I remember having nose bleeds and being sick. Mum and I went to the doctors thinking it was just normal, a part of growing up.

Things deteriorated when I collapsed at school. I was rushed to hospital and had loads of tests. They found some dead tissue cells.

How did you feel?

I felt like my world had fallen apart. Words can’t explain what I felt, I couldn’t stop crying.

How were you told?

Someone from the team came to my cubicle and asked to speak to my parents I knew something wasn’t right. They came back crying and I was told I needed a liver transplant. I was put on the critical transplant list. The lucky thing for me was that I had a transplant the very next day. Though I didn’t have much time to think about it I was so frightened.

How does it affect you?

Well at first I tried to block it out like I couldn’t accept that this was happening to me but now I think as it as I’ve got a new life.

Are you on any medicines?

After my operation I had to take loads of medicines in the first year and I’m going to be taking medication for the rest of my life.

How often do you go to appointments?

Well at first I use to go to appointments every other week but now I go after a couple of months. It all depends on how well I am I doing.

How are you treated there?

The hospital is the best they all made me feel welcome and always reassured me. I really want to thank the whole team who cared for me and looked after me really well. The nurses there were just brilliant, and not forgetting the play centre, that’s an awesome place to go to. It kept me going and occupied my mind from getting bored.

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

The good thing that has come out of all of this is my family were tested and they found that my little brother has the same illness. They caught it in time and he’s taking medication too at the moment. If I’d never had my transplant the doctors wouldn’t have found out about my brother.

Does anything worry you about having a liver condition?

Yeah you wouldn’t be human if u weren’t worried. I’m worried that what if my condition gets worse and I have to have another transplant, but if I take my medicines there’s a slim chance of that happening.

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

The message I want to give to others is that I thought my life was over but it was just the beginning. Life’s too short to be moping around, so everyone should live life to the full. We are normal people just like everyone else. So what if we’ve got scars? We are still beautiful - you’ve just got to believe it.