'Strangers saved my boy's life — and now the impossible can happen'

'Strangers saved my boy's life — and now the impossible can happen' Laura was pregnant with her third child when doctors told her 18-month-old Leyland had end-stage liver disease and that a transplant was his only chance of survival A mum has thanked the stranger whose organ donation saved her little boy’s life and made birthdays and Christmases that once felt impossible a reality. Leyland was just 18 months old when he underwent a life-saving liver transplant after a rare genetic condition left him critically ill. Now four, the youngster is thriving, with mum Laura praising both the medics who cared for him and the donor family who gave her son a future. Laura said: “We will never be able to thank them enough. During the darkest time in their lives, they made the selfless decision to say yes to organ donation, giving our son the future we once feared he might never have. Because of them, we’ve celebrated birthdays, Christmases and countless ordinary family moments that once felt impossible.” Leyland, from Edinburgh, was born in June 2022 with Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency, although his family had no idea anything was seriously wrong at first. Laura had noticed subtle signs including pale poo, poor weight gain, a rash and jaundice which appeared to linger. He was initially diagnosed with a cow’s milk protein allergy and improved after his formula was changed. But shortly after his first birthday, Laura noticed his stomach had become unusually swollen and further tests revealed significant scarring on his liver. Laura said: “That was the moment our world changed. We were told that Leyland had cirrhosis and ascites, but nobody knew why. We were asked to bring him in for a week of intensive investigations. “That week was one of the hardest of our lives. I was around 20 weeks pregnant with our third child, trying to prepare for a new baby while being told that our little boy had end-stage liver disease.” Tests later confirmed his rare genetic condition, but by then the damage was so severe a transplant was his only chance of survival. Laura said: “Finally having a diagnosis brought some relief, but we quickly learned that although we now knew the cause of his illness, the damage to his liver was so severe that his only chance of survival was a liver transplant.” Leyland was assessed for a transplant at Birmingham Children's Hospital and placed on the waiting list before returning home to Scotland. Laura said: “The team at Birmingham were incredible. They explained everything with compassion and honesty, but emotionally it was one of the hardest weeks of my life. I was heavily pregnant, hundreds of miles from home and trying to absorb information no parent ever expects to hear.” But soon after arriving back, Leyland’s condition deteriorated dramatically and his heart rate dropped to a dangerously low level. He was airlifted back to hospital, where Laura remained by his side for seven weeks with support from her mum while husband Russell cared for their daughter Isla and spent time with his older son Leo. Laura said: “My mum took care of everything outside the hospital room so I could focus entirely on Leyland. I honestly don’t know how I would have got through those seven weeks without her, and I will always be grateful for everything she did for us.” Leyland eventually improved enough to return home, but the family knew the call they desperately needed could come at any moment. Laura said: “Even in those precious moments, we knew our bags had to stay packed. We were still waiting for the phone call that could save our son’s life.” The news they had been waiting for eventually came - a suitable donor had been found. Laura said: “It was the call we had longed for, yet when it finally arrived, it brought a completely different kind of fear.” She and Russell travelled with Leyland to Birmingham for the operation. Laura said: “When you’ve spent months waiting for the transplant call, you imagine you’ll feel nothing but relief. “The reality is very different. Knowing your child is about to undergo major surgery, the only thing that can save their life, is overwhelming. After the final checks confirmed the transplant could go ahead, we stayed with Leyland until the very last moment. We kissed him, told him how much we loved him and watched as he was taken into theatre. Then all we could do was wait. The hours felt endless. “Just after midnight, we were told the transplant had been successful. A few hours later, we were finally allowed to see him in intensive care.” Just five days after the operation, Leyland was sitting up in his chair as his condition began to improve. The family made it home in time for Christmas 2023 - fulfilling one particularly special wish from his sister. Laura said: “She had made one simple wish, that her little brother would receive his new liver before Santa came.” Today, Leyland is an energetic four-year-old who loves being outdoors and playing golf. Laura said: “Watching him run, laugh and simply enjoy being a child is something we’ll never take for granted. “Today, because of the extraordinary generosity of one donor family, he has that chance.”