School milestone for brave Sheffield four-year-old who overcame life-threatening liver disease

When four-year-old Sheffield girl Hannah Wallace attended school for the very first time on Monday, it marked a day that her parents Amanda and Tom feared they would never see.
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Hannah, who lives in Mosborough, was born with a rare and life-threatening liver disease, undergoing surgery when she was just three weeks old before having a ‘living liver donation’ from mum Amanda when it became clear the first operation had failed.

Sadly, that transplant was also unsuccessful, and it was only last October when Hannah was fortunate enough to receive a third transplant that she began to thrive, started to do the same things as other children her age, and the dream of starting school began to look like a reality.

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Amanda said the desperate family opted for the living liver donation - where a section of a healthy person’s liver is removed and given to someone else - as Hannah was deteriorating so rapidly, calling the ordeal ‘the most terrifying and overwhelming thing’ that her family had ever been through.

Hannah Wallace, on her way to school for the very first time.Hannah Wallace, on her way to school for the very first time.
Hannah Wallace, on her way to school for the very first time.

However, after experiencing the ‘heartbreak and devastation’ of finding out the living transplant from Amanda had failed, the family were overjoyed when a third surgery last year was successful, and they were able to see their precious daughter attend Beighton Nursery and Infant School this week.

She said: “As parents, we both feel a little anxious about Hannah starting school, especially in the current situation,” admits Amanda.

“Hannah has not had a great start educationally, only managing to spend a few months in nursery. But we are also happy and excited for her, finally getting the opportunity to mix with her peers and be a normal little four-year-old.

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“Hannah has truly been given the gift of life and we can never thank our donor family enough. It is so appropriate that she is starting school during organ donation week.

“If anyone ever doubts the value of organ donation, just look at her. I would urge everyone to share their organ donation wishes with those closest to them.”

Hannah’s family has been supported throughout by the Child Liver Disease Foundation. To find out more about them, visit www.childliverdisease.org.

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