This is the story of an amazing and courageous young lady, Rebecca Beacon. Up until 6 years ago Rebecca was a happy, bubbly, funny ray of sunshine who was caring, loving and highly motivated with a huge personality and a massive passion for life. Rebecca was happy and had everything to live for, a mother to a beautiful little girl Maleiha, working for a well-known mobile phone company and at university studying Health and Social Care. Rebecca had a wonderful partner whom she adored and loved. Rebecca had a bright future ahead of her and wondered how more perfect life could be until one day she had the most amazing news, she was pregnant again. Rebecca and her partner were so excited about the pregnancy and just as they were starting to plan what the future would hold with their new edition to the family Rebecca started to feel quite unwell and the pregnancy felt very different to her previous pregnancy. Rebecca went to see the doctor where several tests were done. This resulted in Rebecca being told that her kidneys weren’t flushing, and she was fitted with a drainage pipe in the kidney to help pass urine which she wore throughout her pregnancy. Rebecca gave birth to a healthy baby boy, Khyais. These were happy times and Rebecca and her partner began to settle down to enjoy the joys of parenthood. A few months after the birth of her son Rebecca began to feel unwell again feeling constantly feeling tired but just put this down to her busy lifestyle and just having another child, but as the months went on Rebecca became more and more unwell and subsequently had to be admitted to hospital with severe abdominal pains and after endless amounts of tests Rebecca was later found to be suffering from ulcerated colitis which resulted in Rebecca being fitted with a colostomy bag. Rebecca could never have imagined what lay ahead for her and her children. Rebecca’s recovery time seemed to be quite long due to other health issues she was experiencing and a few months after her operation Rebecca was diagnosed with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) which is a rare immune-mediated disease of the bile ducts in the liver, which would later result in Rebecca needing a liver transplant. Although the situation was quite serious the family hadn’t really done their research in to Rebecca’s condition. All of Rebecca’s siblings and family members were ready to stand forward to donate a piece of their liver to save their precious Rebecca’s life. The family were soon told that Rebecca needed a complete transplant from either a person about to die who was either in a coma or on a life support machine and they had to be a match. Whilst Rebecca anxiously awaited news on a liver becoming available, she was becoming weaker and unable to move around becoming totally reliable on family to help with day to day tasks. Rebecca’s bright future that she may have had with EE was beginning to fall apart and although she was a valued member of staff, they were unable to sustain her long periods of sickness and terminated her contract. Furthermore, the plans Rebecca had to finish her studies at university and graduate seemed to be slipping away because Rebecca was unable to complete her assignments and fell increasingly further behind in her studies despite being given extended time and eventually had to drop out. Rebecca felt like her whole life was crumbling. However in 2017 Rebecca got some life changing news, a liver had become available but was part of an experiment that the liver consultants were doing which wasn’t guaranteed to be successful. Rebecca went to theatre and the operation was successful and Rebecca recovered quite quickly and began to pick the up the pieces of her life with new and happy prospects ahead. Rebecca was able to enjoy being a full-time mum again for a short period of time. The liver started showing signs of failing after just 10 months and Rebecca’s nightmare started all over again. This was such a difficult time for Rebecca because she got through the first liver transplant holding on to the hope of being a mum to her children again and being able to live her life as she once had before. Rebecca was given 3 months to live if another transplant was not found within that time. Rebecca had roughly 2 weeks left to life when another liver was found that was a match. Rebecca was very weak at this point and her body was already showing serious signs of shutting down. The liver consultants did not think Rebecca’s body was ready for such intrusive surgery, but Rebecca had no choice as if Rebecca refused the liver another would not have been offered and Rebecca would have died.

Rebecca had the 2nd liver transplant but suffered a massive bleed which the doctors could not stop therefore Rebecca was left open and induced in a coma in intensive care. Rebecca’s surgical incision was closed 4 days later and then Rebecca developed septicaemia. During this time Rebecca also had to have dialysis because her kidneys were failing. It was a miracle Rebecca survived all she endured and only a woman with a true warrior spirit such as the spirit Rebecca has would have made it through this, even the consultants were astonished Rebecca made it through this time.

Since the 2nd liver transplant Rebecca hasn’t been right. The recovery for the transplant took 3 months and since then Rebecca has been in and out of hospital with major complications. Rebecca hasn’t even had this 2nd liver for a whole year yet and has been informed by the liver team at the hospital that the liver has failed. Rebecca is unable to get a 3rd liver transplant as 2 transplants are the limit allowed to any person.

Rebecca has been given 7 to 10 months left to live. This has had a devastating effect on Rebecca who will have to leave her 2 children without a mother. The family are also very distressed by this tremendously sad outcome. Rebecca’s mum is tirelessly trying to juggle work (to keep the home running), looking after the children and caring for Rebecca. We the friends of the family would like to ease some of the burden on the family by easing the financial pressures that come with times such as this. We ask that you please donate however much you can even if it is as little as £1, it all helps. All donations will be gratefully received and all money raised will help towards funeral costs, and help towards the children’s futures.

From the bottom of all our hearts, we sincerely thank you all for taking the time to read Rebecca’s story.