A YOUNG mother told she had just hours to live after being struck down by a liver-destroying virus three weeks ago today celebrated the best possible New Year's gift - her safe return home.

Days before Christmas Sarah Cockshott, 26, and her husband Steve, 23, who have a six-month-old son Dylan, were told she would die within within hours if a liver transplant donor could not be found.

Sarah had complained of back pains and was staying with her parents, Hyndburn councillor Derek Scholes and his wife Pat, of Queens Road, Accrington.

Sarah, a receptionist at the Richmond Medical Centre, Accrington, was taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary and then transferred to Queen's Park Hospital, where staff noticed her blood had stopped clotting.

As her condition worsened medical staff called experts at St James Hospital in Leeds to help diagnose the illness.

Sarah, of Cranbrook Avenue, Oswaldtwistle, who is a diabetic, was transferred to Leeds in order to undergo more tests. But within hours of arriving, the family received a chilling call from the hospital.

Sarah's mother said: "They said she was very poorly and we were to get there straight away. I said there 'must have been some mistake' because she had only gone there for tests. But as soon as they did the tests they could tell her liver had failed.

"We drove to Leeds and were told she had between two and 24 hours to live. They told us everything straight - they said she would certainly die without a new liver. Apparently the virus is so strong it can destroy your liver in just 24 hours.

"Sarah couldn't take it in. It was so frightening to see her on the life support machine.

"It was terrible knowing we had to wait for someone else to die so our daughter could live. "We stayed with her as long as we could but we had to come back home and see to the baby. We had only been home an hour when they called and said they had found a donor. Even then they said they could not guarantee she would survive.

"The operation went on for seven hours. Then the next day she had a big haemorrhage and they had to operate again.

"We thought she might be back with us just for Christmas Day but there were complications and she had to stay and have a biopsy."

The family hope to contact the family of the donor soon to offer their thanks.

Mrs Scholes said: " We will be writing to them, although there is no way we can repay them or the wonderful medical staff for saving our daughter's life."

Ironically, Sarah's mother had reprimanded her youngest daughter Rachel for carrying a donor card just weeks before Sarah fell ill.

Mrs Scholes, who says each of the family will now be getting a card, said: "I was against the idea of giving my children's organs away. Rachel and I had a row because she has been carrying a donor card since she was 16.

"But this has completely changed things. You don't realise how many people's lives depend on transplants."

Sarah is recovering at her parents' home and must return to Leeds for weekly blood tests.

Her parents say support from family, friends and Mr Scholes's fellow Hyndburn councillors has helped them deal with their harrowing experience.

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