New At This!

How scary! New blog! Follow me through my journey of life, the universe and everything!!

Until November 2006 I lived a happy existence of being a mum of two, partner of one - happy - contented..and most of all...healthy...

Then I turned yellow... My running friend S spotted it first, but I laughed and off we went, jogging round Reigate Priory Park like every other Saturday. Sunday, I was at A&E in East Surrey, whipped through at top speed; canulated, admitted.

Ten days later I was transferred by ambulance to King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill, SE London - the number one liver transplant unit in Europe. Within a week I was diagnosed with possible Autoimmune Hepatitis - or in English, a swollen liver caused by an autoimmune disease. Basically my immune system had ceased to recognise my liver as being an active, functioning organ and had started attacking it so violently, that on December 26th - Boxing Day - I was put on the Super Urgent Liver Transplant List. Later I found out that this meant I had up to 3 days to live.

I was lucky - so very lucky! A family had been loving and thoughtful enough to have discussed organ donation on their death - and if it wasn't for them, I wouldn't be here. In the early hours of 27th December, I was given the greatest gift I could possibly receive that Christmas - a new liver.

This blog is about how life changes - how my life has changed - how such sadness can be turned around into happiness and total positivity.

Sadly, this week I was diagnosed once again with Autoimmune Hepatitis (3 years post transplant) - but it has been caught early and with the wonderful support of King's, there is no reason why I should not continue my life as I have been since 2006...