Pre Transplant

James was born 21st August 2001, a healthy bouncy boy, to Charles & Jane but in March 2004 has was taken desperately ill when he intestines died, he spent 4 weeks in Alder Hey Childrens hosptial in intensive care and a futher 2 months in a specialist ward. As his intestines had died he was unalble to digest any food or absorb and fluids so he was totally reliant in a drip sending a special feed straight to his heart, called TPN. He was unable to eat or drink, which had been a favourite pasttime, and present us with many dilemas

In order for James to go home Charles and Jane  had to  undergo some intensive training in how to administer his feed, this was a complex procedure requiring sterile preparation which many nursing staff do not get to undertake

Life at home was better than living at Alder Hey, but was very demanding especially as James little sister Lauren had been born on 4th April whilst he was in intensive care which was definitely not how Jane had been planning the arrival.

                                                 

                                                     James with best friend Emma at local Fete

Unfortunatelty on side effect of the TPN was that is slowly poisions the liver and in August James was diagnosed with Liver Disease and was sent to Birmingham Childrens Hospital (BCH) for transplant assessment, in september he was put on the list for a combined liver and bowel transplant.

The procedure is a very rare and BCH had undertaken less than 30 at the time James awas placed on the list, with a 50% survival rate at 3 years....

Over the next months James liver deterioriated and by December he was requiring twice weekly blood transfusions to stay alive.