A Stocksfield woman finally knows what has caused her lifelong liver problems - and even meant she needed a transplant - after pioneering researchers at Newcastle University have become the first to identify a rare new disease.
Linda Turnbull, a barrister, had a liver transplant almost 30 years ago. Now in her 60s, she had suffered with liver failure for years before that - since the age 11. But until now, doctors had never been able to work out exactly what had caused her illness. More recently, she's also suffered kidney failure.
However, she's lived a relatively normal life - and has become a powerful advocate for people with liver problems. She even founded the support group Liver North and remains a governor of the charity.
