A FIT schoolgirl died just two weeks after she first complained of a tummy ache.
Maisie Almond, described by her parents as the “picture of health”, was rushed to A&E when her eyes suddenly turned yellow.
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The 14-year-old, who dreamed of travelling the world, returned from her charity shop volunteer job on September 15 with tummy pains.
After recently starting back at school for the autumn term, her family initially thought it was down to a “run-of-the-mill” stomach bug.
However, that night, after waking up at her home in Manchester with another stomach ache, the teen developed eye jaundice – which can be a sign of a liver problem.
Her parents, Kathryn and Stuart, took her to the emergency department at Tameside Hospital for tests.
Read more on liver disease
“We thought it was just a tummy bug that goes round school and that, after a day off school, she’d be fine,” mum Kathryn told the Manchester Evening News (MEN).
“We thought it was probably a run-of-the-mill tummy bug, especially with going back after the holidays.”
After being admitted to the hospital, Maisie’s jaundice worsened.
Medics tested her for various conditions, including hepatitis, but all results came back negative.
It soon became clear to doctors that Maisie was suffering from acute liver failure and needed a transplant in order to survive, her mum recalled.
Maisie was quickly pushed to the top of the donor list after being admitted to the Children’s Intensive Care ward at Leeds General Infirmary on September 27.
A match donor was found on October 1 and she was taken into theatre at around 11pm.
However, Maisie’s deterioration continued and she would have been “too weak” to undergo the gruelling 12-hour procedure, which would have also required large amounts of donated blood, her family said.
She died in the early hours of October 2.
Senior consultants told Maisie’s parents that she needed a donor liver urgently and that receiving it just a day earlier might have changed the outcome.
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Everything to know about giving blood and donating organs
DONATING blood and organs can be an amazing gift to people who desperately need it for on-going medical treatment or in an emergency.
But who exactly is eligible to provide a donation? Here is all you need to know…
How to donate my organs
An opt-out system is in place in England, Scotland and Wales. This means everyone is in to consent to organ donation unless they have opted out.
However, it still remains essential to communicate your wishes to your family, as they will still be consulted about your decision at the time of donation.
Who can give blood?
Most people are eligible to give blood.
You can donate if you are:
- Fit and healthy
- Weigh more than 7st 12lbs or 50kg
- Are aged between 17 and 66 (or 70 if you have given blood before)
- Are over 70 and have given blood in the last two years
Men can donate more often than women can.
How often can I give blood?
Men can give blood every 12 weeks, while women can donate every 16 weeks.
This is because it takes several weeks for all the red blood cells to be replaced in the body.
Over 6,000 people are needed to donate each day to meet the needs of hospitals, and there is a drive for black donors to donate to help black patients with sickle cell disease.
To make an appointment to donate your blood at the nearest centre, click here.
What happens when you give blood?
Appointments to give blood typically last no longer than an hour.
1. Welcome and preparation
You will be given a leaflet to read and 500ml of fluid to drink just before you give blood. You’ll be asked to drink it over a five-minute period to help ensure you don’t feel faint or nauseous after donating.
2. Health screening
NHS staff will make sure it is safe for you to donate, and that your blood is safe for a patient to receive.
3. Giving blood
Once you are comfortable in a chair, staff examine your arm to find a suitable vein and clean it with antiseptic.
A needle will then be inserted into your arm, which will be used to collect your blood into a blood bag with your unique donor number.
You shouldn’t feel any discomfort or pain.
If you do, tell a member of staff.
A scale is then used to weigh the blood you have donated, and stops when you’ve given 470ml.
This usually takes between five and ten minutes.
The needle is then removed and a dressing is put on your arm
Acute liver failure is a rare condition that happens when the liver suddenly stops working.
This often happens when the liver is damaged quickly, often due to factors like viral infections, certain medications, or excessive alcohol consumption.
However, according to Maisie’s parents, the teen was “a picture of health”.
“She had no underlying health conditions, she was totally fit and went to the gym four times a week,” they said.
The heartbroken parents are now crowdfunding money in their daughter’s name, to raise awareness of the importance of donations.
“We are utterly devastated by the sudden loss of our beautiful girl Maisie,” Kathryn said.
Maisie’s mum told the MEN that her daughter aspired to be an accountant and was excited about backpacking with friends.
However, she added that Maisie’s “main passion” was shopping.
“She loved the finer things in life did our Maisie. She was a huge Manchester City fan, particularly of Phil Foden, and as a family we are massive fans of St Helens Rugby League so we would go to the matches together,” the mum said.
‘Give others the chance of life’
Kathryn is urging others to ensure they are registered as organ and blood donors.
She added: “Tragically Maisie developed acute liver failure out of the blue and needed a liver transplant.
“She got her donor liver but it came too late. In England, everyone is opted in to organ donation.
“However, their family can still opt out if they are unsure of their intentions.
“By registering to become an organ donor, you could give others the chance of life and hope in a time of tragedy.”
Maisie received blood whilst in hospital and would have needed significantly more during the 12-hour transplant operation.
“Please donate if you can. It takes less than one hour, you get to have a nice lie-down, a chat with the lovely nurses and a cuppa and biscuit afterwards,” she added.
“But most importantly that hour is helping to save or improve someone’s life.”
