An "incredible" school girl is urging people to learn about organ donation after it changed her life.
Emelie Austin is living with a rare liver cancer, known as hepatoblastoma, after her diagnosis in 2012. The now 12-year-old, from Cheadle Hulme in Greater Manchester, spent much of her time at Leeds Children's Hospital where she had an operation to remove some of the cancer at just age two.
She was really poorly after she had to go through a "gruelling" course of chemotherapy. Her parents Becky and Dave learnt their daughter would need a liver transplant. "We didn't want to get our hopes up", they said, knowing how long the transplant waiting list would be.
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Becky, 35, said: "Emilie didn’t appear unwell until a week before she was diagnosed. Her tumour just appeared one day and doctors think it had been hidden behind her rib cage. People need to be aware that children do get cancer.
"Quite often you hear about false calls where the organ just isn’t suitable enough. Dave was a better match than me but both of us would’ve jumped at the chance to help her, when it’s your child you would swap places with them in a heartbeat."
The couple, who have another daughter named Madeleine, had even looked into live donation, and Dave himself was preparing to go under the knife for his daughter. A week after her surgery and finding out she'd need the transplant, Emelie was put on the waiting list.
"We were so lucky", mum Becky said as 24 hours later the family were told they had found her a match. Emilie had her transplant and it has changed her life ever since.
"She had the surgery before undergoing further chemotherapy to ensure the cancer had gone out of her body. She has now been in remission for around nine years."
Previously speaking to Manchester Evening News, Becky added: "She is just incredible, she has a really good understanding of why she needed the kidney and where it’s come from. For her school homework once she had to write about her hero, and she wrote about ‘the lady who saved my life’. Every time she makes a wish it’s to make poorly children better."
Since the transplant the little girl who describes herself as courageous, has been on a mission to raise awareness of organ transplants and donations. The 12-year-old is taking part in her eighth British Transplant Games this week.
The event, which has been running now for 40 years, are organised on behalf of Transplant Sport whose aim is to raise awareness of the need for organ donation, encourage transplant recipients to lead active lifestyles and show appreciating for, and remember, donors and their families. When Emelie was six, she was crowned a sporting champion at the games.
As Leeds is where she spent much of toddler years being treated by the Leeds Children's Hospital Team, Emelie is representing the city in the games - which is hosting the event this year. There are 50 athletes on the Leeds team.
Over 2,000 people are travelling to Leeds from Thursday (July 28) until Sunday (July 31), to compete in the game taking on everything from table tennis, obstacle courses, and archery. Emelie's best sports are the obstacle courses, table tennis, badminton, and sprinting.
Emilie told BBC Look North: "I am on the Leeds team and this year the British Transplant Games is in Leeds and this is where I had my transplant so I am really happy to go. I enjoy going because I can be around people who understand what I have been through in life."
Deputy CEO at Leeds Teaching Hospitals said: "We've got over 600 people waiting for a transplant in Leeds and that's why the games are so important for us to raise awareness."
A spokesperson for Leeds Teaching Hospitals said: "Not only do our helpers support athletes at sporting events, they also take care of transport, accommodation, kit, welfare, social events and lots more behind the scenes, sponsored by Leeds Hospitals Charity. Over the next four days they'll be here to support our inspirational athletes, their families and donor families night and day.
"Mostly Leeds Children's Hospital staff, their friends and family the team all give up their own time to support Leeds Children's Transplant Team. We're incredibly proud of them and we hope you'll join us in give them a well deserved at tonight's opening ceremony."
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