19/04/2026
Today is World Liver Day đź’›
For most people, the liver is something we rarely think about… until it stops working.
Every year in the UK, hundreds of children rely on a liver transplant to survive. According to NHS Blood and Transplant data, around 80–90 paediatric liver transplants take place each year, giving children a second chance at life. (bjgplife.com)
But the need is still greater than the number of organs available. Right now, around 460 people are waiting for a liver transplant in the UK, and thousands more are waiting for other life-saving organs. (NHS Blood and Transplant)
For children, the wait can be especially uncertain. While the average wait for a liver can be a few months, some children can wait much longer depending on donor availability. (NHS Organ Donation)
Some babies are born with rare and life-threatening conditions like neonatal haemochromatosis — a disease where iron builds up rapidly in the liver before or shortly after birth. This can cause severe liver damage within days or weeks of life, meaning some newborns need urgent, life-saving treatment or even a transplant just to survive.
A liver transplant doesn’t just save a life — it transforms it. Children who receive a transplant can go on to grow, play, go to school, and live full lives, although many will need lifelong medication and regular hospital care.
đź’› This World Liver Day, we raise awareness for:
• The children still waiting
• The families navigating transplant life
• And the donors who give the ultimate gift
Please consider having the conversation about organ donation. One decision can save multiple lives.
