Poppy was born on May 29th 2011 with an extended abdomen. It took the nursing staff eight hours to stabilise her condition so she could be transported to Manchester Royal Infirmary's Intensive Care Unit. Her parents were told to accompany her in the ambulance as everyone feared she would not make it.

Quickly diagnosed as having a Mesenchymal Haematoma on her liver (a tumour, the size of which you can see in the photographs; was causing her extended abdomen).  Poppy's condition was serious; she needed round the clock care. She spent eight days in Manchester Royal Infirmary with a nurse by her bed 24 hours a day. After eight days she was transferred to Leeds General Infirmary (LGI) for specialist liver care.

Poppy arrived at the Intensive Care Unit at LGI, on June 7th 2011. Again, receiving round the clock care. 

On 17th June Poppy was dealing with her first of many operations. Her first was undergoing a 'resection', a major operation to remove the tumour and with it, a section of her liver. 

It was hoped that the remaining liver would be enough to function appropriately and regenerate itself over time.  This would be enough for anyone to go throughbut Poppy was 3 weeks old.

Unfortunately what remained of the liver was not enough for a sustainable function. Poppy required a liver transplant and she was placed on the donor register as a ‘super urgent priority UK’. Most transplant lists are localised but such was the seriousness of Poppy’s condition she topped the list for the whole of the UK.

After a difficult twelve days LGI had found a suitable liver donor for Poppy. An unimaginable experience andlife changing decision by an unknown family meant that Poppy could undergo her transplant on June 30 2011.

During the transplant operation Poppy required two separate heart massages. As a result of needing this procedure Poppy has been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy.  That said, Poppy has made it through with flying colours. She’s kept this approach to overcoming all her challenges; she never fails to inspire those around her.

The transplant was done through open surgery which meant she required three more operations over three weeks to close the wound.