The devoted grandma shares a very special bond with her 16-month-old granddaughter - after making the life-saving decision to donate a section of her liver to the toddler.

Carol, aged 58, made the brave decision to go under the knife to save the life of her tiny granddaughter Farah Bycroft after she was diagnosed with a rare liver condition.

Carol, from Rotherham, said: "Grandparents Day is particularly special for me because there have been times when I haven't expected to celebrate another one.

"Shortly after birth, Farah was diagnosed with biliary atresia, a lethal, rare childhood liver disease. She had an operation called a kasai portoenterostomy which didn't work, so at eight-months-old she went on the liver transplant list.

"It was unbearable to see her so listless with no energy and no quality of life. She was deteriorating before my eyes.

"Several relatives offered to go for a blood test to see if they were compatible but they weren't. I thought at 58-years-old, that I wouldn't be eligible but I had the tests and was so relieved when I found I could donate part of my liver."

Despite the demands of running her own business with husband Steve, she also had to go through the trauma of a cancelled operation and the offer of a donor liver, which subsequently proved incompatible, before undergoing the eight-hour operation on January 24.

Carol said: "I wanted to do this for Farah so badly. I wanted her to have the chance at life and to have a future and yes, I would do it all again if I had to. We had a really tough time at the start of this year and we are really grateful for the help given to us by the Children's Liver Disease Foundation."

The liver is the only organ in the body that regenerates itself and since the successful transplant Carol's liver has grown back to its normal size. The section donated to Farah will grow as she develops.

Catherine Arkley, chief executive of Children's Liver Disease Foundation said: "We are the only organisation in the UK dedicated to fighting all liver diseases of childhood and give emotional support to families and their children with a liver disease.

"We also undertake research and education into the little known disease which can affect children through no fault of their own or their families."

Farah will always be on anti-rejection medication but Carol says she is now doing incredibly well.

She said: "We will always have a special bond, and my daughter Jo has kept a photo diary of Farah's life so that when she is old enough to understand, she will know what a special little girl she is."

Carol says she, Farah, and the rest of the family are looking forward to spending Grandparents' Day together.





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