Cassie

What is your age and gender?

18 and female

What is your liver condition?

I have biliary atresia and I’m waiting for a liver transplant

How old were you when you was diagnosed?

I was 6 weeks old. I had my first operation called a kasai at 8 weeks old

How did you feel?

I didn’t really know to much about it as I was young, but now I’m older and waiting for this transplant its put a lot of stain and pressure on me, my health and my bloke and family

How were you told?

My mum told me from when I was young and explained it in more detail when she felt I would understand more

How does it affect you?

It makes my life harder at the moment because I’m always tired and I’m in and out of hospital every week

Are you on any medicines?

Yes loads of them

How often do you go to appointments?

I go every so many weeks and sometimes it’s every week to king’s college hospital

How are you treated there?

I have always been treated well and feel I could ask them anything

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

The good thing is having the support of a load of people, and the bad thing is not being like any other 18 year old

Does anything worry you about having a liver condition?

Not really, I’ve got use to it all now. It’s just the transplant that worries me

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

Stay strong and look the future…. not the past and present!