Albie had a liver transplant in December 2021 when he was 8 years old, having been diagnosed with acute liver failure. He was a happy, healthy, active little boy, until the November, completely out of the blue I noticed he had jaundice, just in his eyes to begin with, but rapidly spread to his whole body. He was admitted to hospital, and underwent so many tests to try to find out the cause of the jaundice, he was blue lighted from the local hospital to King’s paediatric liver specialists, where he spent less than a week before being listed for an urgent transplant. It was the most harrowing, frightening experience. He received his transplant 72 hours later, having been placed in an induced coma. We were in hospital for 5 weeks in total, but he recovered enough for us to make it home just in time for Christmas to spend it with Albie’s brothers! I am eternally grateful for the surgeons and staff at kings hospital and of course his donor for saving my little boy. He has to take medication for the rest of his life, which have some unpleasant side effects, he has regular hospital trips and blood tests, but he continues to do it all with a smile. Albie is very excited to be taking part in the British transplant games this year, he will be competing in swimming, tennis and football and we will be joining him as a family to take part in the donor run. It will be great to meet other families who have gone through similar experiences.

King’s runs the largest liver transplantation programme in Europe and carries out some 50 paediatric transplants per year. Although most children return to a normal life after transplant, they are left with scars, and many experience psychological effects. They will usually need lifelong medication; frequent hospital appointments; blood tests and other procedures; and are more susceptible to illness and infection. The differences from their peers can make transplant children feel very isolated.Every year 20+ King’s transplant children and their families attend the British Transplant Games; we want to grow this team to enable more children to share the benefits. Being part of the team provides support long after the event, and creates lifelong memories. With King’s patients coming from across the country, the Transplant Games is an important way to bring families together.To find out more about the team please email team manager Jo Ramsay at kingschildrenstt@gmail.com. For more information on the Transforming Liver Care appeal please visit https://supportkings.org.uk/building-support-networks.We are fundraising for the British Transplant Games Fund D2338.