A mother risked her life to save her daughter by donating half her liver.

Surgeons removed part of Kim Thurloway's organ and transplanted it into Jessica's body, giving her a new lease of life.

Jessica, nine, was desperately ill with liver failure but no donors could be found.

Ms Thurloway watched helplessly as her little girl's health deteriorated while she waited on the transplant list.

After six months she decided they could wait no longer and put herself forward as a living donor.

Ms Thurloway, who lives in Ifield, Crawley, with Jessica's father, Simon Turpitt, said: "The transformation is incredible. Before the operation, running was out of the question. Even sitting up in bed would leave her exhausted.

"Now she has boundless energy. Even her hair and skin is different."

Jessica was born with biliary atresia, a potentially fatal condition which prevents the liver draining properly.

She had an operation as a baby which helped but her parents knew she would have to have a transplant one day.

When she was five, her health deteriorated rapidly. She lost weight, her skin went yellow and her stomach was swollen.

She was put on the transplant list in February 2000 but there was a severe shortage of donors.

Ms Thurloway said: "I could see her health failing in front of our eyes. Her arms were stick-thin, she could hardly eat and had no energy. Bouts of jaundice made her go quite yellow. Adults would stop and point in the street. I didn't think anyone could be so cruel."

After putting herself forward as a living donor, Ms Thurloway went through a series of tests to make sure she was suitable.

The operation, which is rare, was carried out at King's College Hospital, London, the only hospital in the UK licensed to perform live donor transplants.

Ms Thurloway said: "The consultants tried to dissuade me at first as they don't like to risk another life if they have any alternative.

"But I knew I had to help her. It was a small sacrifice to make.

"It was frightening for Jessica and it was frightening for Simon to watch us both going in for the operation.

"I wasn't nervous. I just wanted to get it over with and make her better."

Within six weeks of the operation Jessica was back at school and within 12 weeks both her and Kim's livers had grown to their full size.

For more information about donors and transplants, call the Children's Transplant Foundation on 01689 834 906 or log on to www.ctfl.co.uk or the
Children's Liver Disease Foundation on 0121 212 3839 or www.childliverdisease.org