World’s youngest liver donor survivor is now an honorary hospital director 

By Lydia Patrick via SWNS

The world's youngest ever liver transplant recipient defied the odds after being given just two weeks to live - and has now been made an honorary hospital director at age 11.

Lottie Bryon-Edmond was born seven weeks premature and was diagnosed with neonatal hemochromatosis- a rare liver condition causing an excess of iron in the body.

Just five weeks old and weighing 4lbs, Lottie defied the odds to be the youngest person to ever have a successful liver transplant.

The young campaigner now hopes to raise 10k for Torbay Hospital, Devon, to build a memorial for the families of organ donors.

Lottie's Father Chris Bryon-Edmond, 58, a property developer from Torquay, Devon said: "We are forever and eternally grateful for Lottie's organ donor.

"It wasn't a good set of chance, we were told she had two weeks to live and Lottie waited 15 days just to prove a point.

"She turned from dark to pink after the liver transplant, it was a roaring success.

"Nobody had ever transplanted someone who was 4lbs in weight."

Lottie was born on July 6, 2011, at 2.38 a.m. at Torbay Hospital and had to be rushed to intensive care.

She was transferred from Torquay to Exeter to Bristol Children's hospital and eventually to Birmingham hospital where she was diagnosed with neonatal hemochromatosis.

According to Chris, both he and his wife Julie, 51, prepared for the worst as their daughter's prognosis was two weeks to live and the average waiting time for a liver donation was three months.

He said: "They told us she had two weeks to live, it wasn't a good set of chances.

"She turned from being very dark in colour to being a pink little baby.

"Her health is brilliant she has gone from strength to strength."

As a small baby, Lottie had to be on oxygen and her parents had to take it in turns to stay up at night to monitor her.

On the day of her operation in August 2012, her brother Daniel was inspired to sign up to the donor register.

Tragically Daniel tragic passed away after he was hit by a car in October 2012 buyt he saved six lives by donating his organs.

Chris added: "He was an amazing son, he was very confident and a super good looking and loveable guy.

"He adored his sister to bits.

"He signed the register the day she had her operation and saved six people lives."

Now Lottie has to take immunosuppressants to stop her white blood cells attacking her liver but is in perfect health and became on honorary NHS director in September 2022.

Chris added: "She's fabulous, she's become an honorary director at Torbay Hospital.

"She's very confident and feisty but adorable and adoring.

"She had the whole board of directors in tears when she gave a presentation."

Little Lottie is now campaigning to raise 10k for Torbay Hospital to build a memorial for organ donors and their families.

Chris said: "She has already raised 2.3k but hopes to reach 10k.

"Registering to be on the organ list is a complete and utter no brainer when you spend as long as we did in hospital.

"We only waited 15 days, we can't imagine how awful or frightening it is to wait longer.

"The memorial will be a beautiful area and will hopefully encourage families to talk about organ donation."