Donor plea after liver transplant

Freya with her brother, Adam

The parents of a seven-month-old baby girl who has just had a life-saving liver transplant are urging more people to carry donor cards.

Freya Stratford, from Penrith in Cumbria, had been seriously ill with the bile duct condition, Biliary Atresia, and doctors had given her just weeks to live.

A donor was found last month in a national media appeal.

The youngster underwent a complex eight-hour operation four weeks ago at the Diana, Princess of Wales Children's Hospital in Birmingham.

Clare Stratford cuddles Freya

She is to return home on Tuesday with her parents, Clare and Paul, and her brother Adam.

Mrs Stratford, 24, said: "It's just an amazing feeling. We knew the day would come.

"I can't thank the donor family enough. They have given Freya the gift of life.

"It's just unbelievable. If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't have my little girl."

Freya will still be monitored closely to guard against infection but is expected to lead as normal a life as possible.

'Donation works'

Mrs Stratford continued: "This proves that organ donation does work.

"But people have to realise that although Freya has had her transplant there are lots of other children and adults waiting for organs."

"It's so, so important that people still carry a card."

Beverley Cornforth, the regional transplant educationalist for the West Midlands health authorities,said: "Freya would have been dead if she had not had her transplant.

"The fact that they are going home to have a normal family life is what it's all about - to give a normal quality of life to the patient and the family itself."