A MOTHER-OF-TWO who only expected her liver to hold out another eight months has undergone a life-saving transplant.

Dyan Taylor, 52, of Woodthorpe, York, suffers from a hereditary liver condition that killed her mother, Barbara Simpson, last year.

She was put on the transplant list after 15 years of liver problems, but suffered an agonising false alarm when a donor liver failed to match hers only hours before the operation.

Two weeks ago, Dyan and her family finally received the call they had been waiting for.

"When the hospital phoned to say they'd found a match I had a good feeling about it and I knew it would be mine," said Dyan.

"I was very nervous because I'd already had a false alarm, but I knew I'd get that one."

Dyan and her mother suffered from primary biliary cirrhosis of the liver, which could eventually lead to tumours.

Barbara's condition was diagnosed too late for a transplant, but she was keen the condition would not claim her daughter.

Dyan said: "She kept telling me I had to do something and that I could not leave it. She was with me in spirit throughout the operation and I know she would have been pleased for me."

Although Dyan will have to take anti-rejection tablets for the rest of her life, she expects a new lease of life when she has recovered from the operation.

Dyan, her husband, Michael, and their daughters, Victoria and Katie, plan to write to the donor's family to express their thanks.

"They have given me the ultimate gift, the gift of life," said Dyan.

"Before the transplant I was very lethargic with no energy and all my muscles ached and my skin itched. My quality of life really deteriorated.

"Now I have the rest of my life ahead of me. I can't believe I'm actually sitting here at home."

Katie, 24, said her mum was recovering well.

She said: "We're very grateful to the donor and their family. They've given my mum the gift of life and we couldn't be more thankful."

To sign up to the National Health Service (NHS) Organ Donor Register phone 0845 6060400.

DYAN'S story highlights why joining the NHS Organ Donor Register is so important.

In April, the Evening Press told how Louise Johnson, 38, of York, enabled 25 people to live healthier, happier lives after her death following two brain haemorrhages.

Two men can see again, through her corneas, and a road-crash victim will have the chance to walk again with her transplanted bone.

Despite organ donation featuring widely in the media, there is still a national shortage of donors and more than 6,000 people are waiting for a transplant.

The BBC is covering the topic in its DoNation season, highlighted on Saturday with its interactive episode of Casualty and Holby City. The one-off episode, on BBC1 at 8.20pm, will follow what happens when a potential organ becomes available for one of two desperately ill people, and viewers are asked to choose who should receive the vital body part. For more information, log on to www.bbc.co.uk/donation.

To join the NHS Organ Donor Register phone the Organ Donor Line on 0845 60 60 400 or visit the website www.uktransplant.org.uk.

Updated: 09:58 Wednesday, August 24, 2005