Receiving a liver transplant has inspired Paul and his family to take on the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge to raise money for the British Liver Trust. Thank you for sharing your story, Paul
In 2023 my shins started itching a lot and I would scratch at them until I bled. I then began feeling really lethargic and needed to nap in the afternoons. At first I thought it was because I was in my 40s and not as fit as I used to be, but then I became jaundiced.
My GP sent me to a consultant and I was diagnosed with cirrhosis (primary biliary cholangitis) within two weeks. I was prescribed medication, including ursodeoxycholic acid and water retention tablets because I had also developed effects of ascites and was put on the liver transplant waiting list.
The diagnosis was tough to accept because I always associated liver disease with alcohol and had never been a massive drinker. I also researched PBC online, which is the worst thing you can do without any understanding of the condition, this sent me into a downward spiral.
At first the medication did its job and I continued working 70 hours a week in hospitality while having to take afternoon naps. By August 2024 my energy levels were really low and I was really struggling with the ascites and had to be drained every two-three weeks. I also kept having dizzy spells and falling over. I was told to stopped working and decided to move closer to my family.
Kidney dialysis
In May 2025, after visiting my consultant, she said my kidney function was not good and tried reducing the water retention tablets. On August 1st I had my bloods done in the morning and got a phone call when I got home saying I needed to be admitted. I was immediately put on kidney dialysis and moved to ICU and a week later I was blue-lighted to Leeds St James ICU and bumped up the transplant list.
A liver became available, but I was too ill to accept it due to infection and was told to call my family because I might not make it. It finally sank in how bad I actually was and I started to have really bad intrusive thoughts.
On 30th August another liver became available that was a match and I went through so many emotions again, the anxiety, happiness, sadness, fear, and the fact that someone had died to enable me to live. The surgery went well and I’ve got nothing but love, respect and thanks for the doctors, surgeons and nurses in hospital.
I’m now walking around 10km a day to train for it and can walk 16k in a three-to-four-hour period which is enough for anybody, never mind a liver transplant recipient.
It’s definitely changed my perspective on life and has brought my family a lot closer. I think about my donor every day, but it took a long time before I could write to their family, because how can you take happiness from somebody else’s grief?
As soon as I had the transplant I was adamant I would do something for a cause because I owed it to myself to make life count and to the person who allowed me to have this second chance. My consultant did tell me off quite a lot in the first couple of months because they were worried I was overdoing it, but I found it tough to hold back.
It’s still sore inside when I try to run to run so my brother-in-law suggested a walk. We decided to do the Yorkshire Three Peaks for the British Liver Trust because it supports people like me before, during and after transplant, and funds vital research, information and support for those affected by liver disease.
Consultant is happy
I was always quite active because of my job and used to play football and ride bikes, but I’ve never taken on a challenge like this and know it will be tough.
I’m now walking around 10km a day to train for it and can walk 16k in a three-to-four-hour period which is enough for anybody, never mind a transplant recipient. It’s crazy to think of the state I was in a year ago when I couldn’t even walk 15 yards to the toilet. My consultant is really happy with my progress and is now very supportive of me doing the challenge.
I would never go the doctor before as I sometimes felt embarrassed. Even asking questions to my consultant in case she thought it was a stupid question, but I’ve learned not to think like that now. It’s important to get things checked and ask the questions, because it gives you piece of mind.
