Clare left hospital with a new liver just 22 days after going on the transplant list

I was diagnosed with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) in 2006 at the age of 18. PSC is a chronic liver disease affecting the bile ducts in the liver whereby the bile ducts become narrowed from inflammation and fibrosis and can ultimately lead to liver failure with some patients receiving a liver transplant in time. PSC has no known definitive cause or cure as the disease can return in a new transplanted liver. My PSC hadn’t really caused me too many issues until 2012/ 2013 when my liver deteriorated fairly quickly and my symptoms and blood tests showed that my liver was failing. My main symptoms were horrendous itching, terrible jaundice and severe fatigue.

I was one of the lucky ones and received my life saving liver transplant in March 2014 after only being on the list for 10 days. I left hospital 12 days later with no itching and with no jaundice and was back to a normal routine around 3 months later.

I wouldn’t be here today if it was not for the amazing gift of life from my donor and his family. I will never forget that gift and I wake up every morning and think of the stranger who gave me a second chance at life. If you haven’t already done so, please sign the donor register and most importantly tell your family your wishes .

Sadly I was diagnosed with recurrent PSC in 2018 meaning that the PSC has returned in my transplanted liver but that’s just the rollercoaster that is life! The good thing is I have dealt with this horrible disease once before and so I can definitely do it again!

– Clare Blake

At Live Life Give Life our Advocates have all been directly affected by organ donation and include recipients, live donors and donor families.  It is this personal touch which makes our charity so special.  All have been chosen because they are forward-thinking, self-motivated, imaginative and positive role models within the transplant community.

If you are interested in joining the team and would like to learn more about becoming an Advocate for Live Life Give Life, please email us at info@livelifegivelife.org.uk