A loving mum left waiting four years for a liver transplant fears that her children could be orphaned if a donor is not found soon.
Caroline Nugent, 40, is believed to have been on the UK waiting list longer than any other patient.
Her son Carter, 15, is her main carer after her husband died last summer in a motorbike accident.
The former NHS care worker, who became ill in 2015, has a rare complication from liver disease.
She has been close to death several times due to blood loss from damaged veins and arteries.
The death of her husband Craig, aged 47, left her worried for Carter and his sister Sophia, 11.
She said: “I rely on Carter and I’ve good neighbours. My wish is this year I get that transplant.
"I feel like I’m running out of time.”
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Caroline, of Ballyclare, Co Antrim, who went on the transplant list in 2018, had a major bleed during lockdown.
She was saved by her stepmum, an ex-military nurse.
She added: “I’m praying I’ll get the transplant. I’m scared my kids could be orphaned at any time.”
The demand for livers for transplant continues to grow due to soaring obesity, experts say.