CATHERINE Smith, who got her life back after a record-breaking liver transplant, is urging others to join the organ donor register.

Nine months ago, the mum from Barnwood was jaundiced and confined to a wheelchair following a 10-year battle against liver disease.

Her stomach was swollen with fluid, her major organs damaged and her family and friends feared the worst.

But she battled back from illness to become eligible for a transplant.

Before she could even be put on the UK donor register, a liver was found and she was wheeled into the operating theatre.

It was an operation which would save her life and put her into the history books as one of the fastest organ recipients in UK history.

Catherine, 47, said: “It was remarkable. I was waiting for a prescription at the hospital in Birmingham when I was told a liver had become available. I was only told I had made it on to the register hours earlier so it was a big shock.

“I was physically weak and it all happened very fast. I'm so grateful to the boy whose liver I was given and the chance to live again.”

Catherine's battle began after the birth of her third child in 1998. She developed a problem with her immune system, which started to attack her liver.

She was later diagnosed with Primary Biliary Cirrhosis.

Despite becoming increasingly tired and ill, Catherine could not go on the transplant list due to an infection.

“I was in and out of hospital and doctors did not think my liver would take much more,” she said.

“Eventually they found the cause of the infection. I was treated and they agreed to put me on the transplant list the following day. I was ecstatic but the events that followed were even more remarkable.

“As I waited for my medication, I was told that someone with the exact blood group had donated their liver.”

Catherine's operation was completed the following morning.

“My quality of life has been totally transformed,” she said. “I was so grateful to see my family again and to be given the chance to live a normal life.”

Catherine received a liver from an 18-year-old boy. Part of the liver was also donated to a young girl to save her life too.

“I've written to the parents of the donor to thank them,” said Catherine.

“It's one of the special things about organ donation that when people go through a sad loss they can be encouraged that other lives have been saved.

“I'd urge everyone to put themselves on the register so the can the gift of life, which I received.”

A UK Transplant spokesman said: “Catherine has been amazingly lucky. The average wait for a liver transplant is 95 days.

“We don't keep timings for people yet to be put on the list as it's so rare we find an organ before they are. This is a special case.”