Audrey Dillon

James is marking Organ Donation Week by sharing his remarkable journey with liver disease, highlighting the life-saving impact of organ donation. At five years old, James was diagnosed with a rare liver condition, congenital hepatic fibrosis, after a bout of chickenpox led to severe stomach pains and hospital admissions. For many years, he lived well with the condition, but as he turned 40 in 2023 his liver began to fail and his health had deteriorated rapidly. He developed severe complications including hepatic encephalopathy, oedema and ascites, and had to leave his job as he became increasingly unwell. At one stage, he was even taken off the transplant list and told to prepare for end of life.  “I was in and out of hospital, being drained of up to 11 litres of fluid every week, and eventually became so ill I was put into a coma and kept alive by machines,” James recalls. “When I was told I was too poorly for transplant, I almost gave up hope. But then, against all odds, I got the call.” Read his full story here: britishlivertrust.org.uk/inf… James’s story is a powerful reminder of the life-saving importance of organ donation.