Liver transplant recipient raises £4,500

Rosemarie Nash Smith, from Cosby in Leicestershire, received a liver transplant at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham three years ago, and has since gone on to raise a fantastic amount of money to support transplant patients just like her at the hospital.

Rosemarie said: “My liver issues date back to 2010 when I was unwell and out of sorts. I went to Africa over Christmas for a holiday but realised that I wasn’t very well at all. What initially looked like a sun tan turned out to be jaundice. It was only when the whites of my eyes became yellow that I realised we had a very bad problem.

“I saw my own doctor when I arrived home who got me into the hospital. They couldn’t work out what was wrong at first and thought it might be a deep seated virus that had been in my system for a long time
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“I was kept on medication and was later transferred to QEHB and Professor Adams said that more detailed checks were needed. For two years my liver was deteriorating and then mid-year 2014 I started to build up an excess of abdominal fluid which was then drained off.

“I was then put onto the transplant list. I was getting older but was told that apart from my liver I was healthy so they were happy to do it.

“I eventually had my transplant in June 2015. I feel brilliant now compared to then. When you’re generally not well you don’t realise and suddenly it hits you afterwards that you’re better.

“I had my transplant third time lucky. I went on the register Jan 2015 and had my first call at the end of March but I had a cold so I didn’t even get as far as the hospital. I then got another call at the end of April, came in and was prepped but it turned out that the incoming liver wasn’t suitable.

“On the third time it was a Sunday evening and I came in that night and had the transplant first thing on the Monday morning.

Speaking of her fundraising, Rosemarie said “Whilst recovering I said to my family ‘we’ve got to raise money for the liver unit when I start to feel better.’”

Rosemarie has raised an incredible £4,500 thanks to the generosity of her friends and family. She said: “I do the background work on fundraising but it’s the people who attend the events that really bring the money in.

“I’ve done two afternoon teas in my garden, which people have thoroughly enjoyed. I’ve also done quiz evenings at a local community hall who let me have the room free of charge so every penny raised can go to the Charity.”

“I have another quiz coming up on Saturday evening. My sister and her two children have been amazing and have helped a lot.

QEHB Charity is proud to support the incredible work of the liver transplant team at the hospital, and has recently funded a perfusion machine that could increase the number of transplants that take place at the hospital.

Speaking of the difference that her money could make, Rosemarie said: “It makes me feel brilliant and emotional when I think of the liver perfusion machine. The machine could have made such a difference to me and I know that it will make a huge difference to so many patients in the future.”

Justine Davy, Head of Fundraising at QEHB Charity, said: “Our thanks go to Rosemarie for organising such wonderful fundraising events that have helped to raise so much money for the liver department here at the hospital.

“It is thanks to the generosity of people like Rosemarie that we have been able to provide world class equipment, and fund leading research into liver disease right here in Birmingham.”

Find out more about how QEHB Charity supports liver patients at QEHB here.