Sofia was diagnosed in December 2022 with biliary atresia - a rare liver disease that affects just 1 in 18,000 babies which is approximately 50 babies born a year in the U.K.

Just before Christmas 2022, Sofia underwent a 5 hour long surgery to attempt to correct her bile system to prevent further liver damage. She had no bile ducts outside of her liver and her gall bladder was shrivelled up so this was removed. They then attached her intestines directly up to her liver in the hope that the bile would be able to drain adequately.

Sadly, this operation didn’t work and Sofia’s liver became more scarred and she went into end stage liver failure.

In March 2023, we met with the fantastic transplant team at Kings College hospital in London and it was agreed that Sofia would be presented to the board as a good candidate for liver transplant surgery and she was listed for transplant 2 weeks later. At this point we were told she had as little as 3 months to live, we were in shock hearing that said out loud to say the least!

After being listed for over 3 months, and Sofias health worsening, it was agreed that Live donation was the best way forward. After confirming he was a perfect match, her amazing daddy gave her 20% of his liver. Both Pete and Sofia handled the surgery amazingly and Sofia was discharged just 2 weeks after the operation! Sofias new liver is functioning perfectly and early check ups have been very promising. She’s not out of the woods yet but life has certainly become a lot better since she’s got her new liver! Her Jaundice cleared almost instantly, she has started to gain weight and is the cheekiest little 1 year old who is absolutely thriving.

This year, exactly 1 year since being discharged after her transplant, Sofia (and Pete) will be competing in the British Transplant Games in Nottingham in August. We couldn’t be prouder of how far she’s come and can’t wait for her to take part for the first time! If anyone would like to sponsor her, we would be hugely grateful.

King’s runs the largest liver transplantation programme in Europe and carries out around 50 paediatric transplants per year. Although most children return to a normal life after transplant, they are left with scars, both physical and emotional.

Transplants are a treatment, not a cure. The children and young people on our team usually need lifelong medication, they have frequent hospital appointments, blood tests and other procedures, and are more susceptible to illness and infection.

For our young people the differences from their peers can make them feel isolated, and medical appointments and treatments can make it feel that they have no control over their own bodies. This can lead to poor body image and carries a risk of negative behavioural health outcomes, such as nonadherence to medication, missed medical appointments, and poor health.

Our team is about fun, friendship, and building vital support networks. Enabling children and young people to know they are not alone, they are not the only ones with scars and daily medication, or experiencing the side effects of transplantation.

Being part of the team provides support long after the event, and creates lifelong memories. Our team members come from across the UK, and beyond, and the Games are an important way to bring our families together. We want to reach more families and enable more children and young people to attend and share the benefits.

Please visit our social media to see quotes from families about how important the Games are to them. https://www.instagram.com/kingschildrensteam/

To find out more about the team please email team manager Jo Ramsay at kingschildrenstt@gmail.com.

For more information on the charity's support for the team please visit https://supportkings.org.uk/what-you-make-possible/difference-were-making/british-transplant-games.

We are fundraising for the British Transplant Games Fund D2338.

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