Boy was 'fighting infections' and turning yellow before liver transplant saved his life

Trisha Goldie, from Scotland, says her son, Jim, had no quality of life before he was given an organ transplant - now he has become a star football player in his area

A young boy who was "constantly fighting serious infections" due to his rare medical condition has finally been given a new lease on life.

Jim Goldie, now 13, from Annan, Dumfriesshire, used to spend weeks in "crippling pain" and was "floored" by his health. He was diagnosed with Biliary Atresia, which is a blockage in the tubes (ducts) that carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder.

His mum Trisha Goldie said the disease left him "lifeless" and explained that his skin turned yellow from the condition. But when he was nine years old he was given a vital organ donation at St James's University Hospital in Leeds in August 2020.

The life-saving procedure took place 77 days after he was put on the transplant list. Six months later, Jim's condition rapidly progressed and he went on to win his school's sports day race. Speaking about her son, Trisha said: “Jim didn’t have a life before his transplant. He was always in and out of hospital. He was very ill."

"He wasn’t fit to enjoy life, he was constantly floored. He’s now living a normal life, he plays football as a goalkeeper for Gretna. It’s been like having a different child. Six months after the surgery, he won his school sports day. All the teachers were in tears.

Jim, who lives on his family’s cattle farm, run by dad Jim Goldie Snr, 59, underwent surgery when he was just 12 days old. Surgeons had to attach his liver to his gut and remove his gallbladder. But the surgery only temporarily fixed the problem. Trisha added: “There were times we thought Jim wasn’t going to pull through. He had major surgery 11 days after he was born. His condition is so rare, there are only something like 40 babies a year born with it.

“There was always a fear that his liver could fail. He spent his life constantly fighting serious infections that came from his gut and spread to his liver. He spent weeks in crippling pain, it was horrible to see. When we were told he was on the transplant list it was a relief.”

Rangers fan Jim, who has three brothers, Niall, 28, Andrew, 34, and Robert, 31, spent days in hospital after his liver transplant. He was left terrified that his body would reject the new organ, but he was given a huge boost when he was sent a video from his Ibrox heroes, including Jermaine Defoe and Ryan Jack, reports Daily Record.

Mum Trisha added: “From that moment on, Jim never looked back. He didn’t speak about rejection, he just thought about getting home, playing football, and watching Rangers win the league – which they did that season. It was an amazing turnaround.”

Trisha was speaking ahead of organ donation week, which runs from today - Monday, September 23 – 29. Trisha says she hopes her son’s story can inspire others to have a conversation around becoming an organ donor.

She said: "We just need people to have a conversation about organ donation. When someone dies it is such a difficult decision, but Jim is proof of how life-changing it can be. He’ll be able to live a full life, thanks to another family out there, who gave us the greatest gift and we’ll be forever grateful to them.”