Two moms whose babies were born with a rare liver condition have been united through their ordeal.
Kerrie Day and Rachel Gledhill’s daughters were both born with biliary atresia which affects just one in 15,000 babies.
But despite the rarity of the condition, the two live just a stone’s throw apart in Colchester.
Kerrie and Rachel met as their daughters are both being treated at King’s Hospital in London.
Now they have become friends and want to raise awareness of liver conditions.
Kerrie’s daughter Bonnie was born five weeks early weighing just 4lbs and 6ozs.
She said: “I didn’t realise I was expecting until I was 29 weeks pregnant.
“I was working for a taxi firm when my waters broke.
“I had Bonnie at Colchester General Hospital and she was jaundiced but most babies are when they are premature.
“However, Bonnie’s stools were white so we knew something was not right.
“She was transfered to King’s Hospital where they did liver biopsies.
“She was diagnosed with biliary atresia and was operated on when she was two months old.
“It was heart-breaking. You think when you have an operation that will be the end of it but this is something which will go on for life.”
Biliary atresia is a condition in which inflammation develops within the bile ducts around the time of birth.
The inflammation can occur both inside and outside the liver and leads to bile duct damage which causes scarring of the liver.
Kerrie said: “At the moment, there are signs of progress. She is on medicines and vitamins and her liver seems to be functioning well.
“But in the long term, she might need a liver transplant.”
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