A WOMAN is trying trace the family who gave her the gift of life.

Rachel Hadfield was just six months old when she received her first liver transplant after becoming critically ill with a rare liver disease.

Now, aged 23, Rachel has received another liver transplant and has written to the family who donated her liver in the hope of finding out about the person who saved her life

Rachel from Nuttall Avenue in Horwich said: "I am really hoping that the family will reply to my letter but I do understand if they don't.

"I have told them how thankful I am for the liver and that I will take very good care of it and that I understand how hard of a decision it must have been.

"It would be nice for them to see just how grateful people are to families that donate.

"I want to know who it is so that one day when I have a family of my own I can actually name my child after them."

When she was born Rachel's family were told that she wouldn't make it to her first birthday without a transplant but thankfully a donor was found.

In January, 22 years after her first transplant, Rachel had another transplant after she started to suffer from constant infections.

Now recovering at home Rachel said: "I understand how hard it must be for the families because when like me you wait for a liver, somebody else is having theirs taken away.

"But if it wasn't for donors nobody who needs a transplant would be here.

I think people who are against organ donation obviously that is their wish but I think that if it was their family member or them that needed a donor I am sure they would change their minds pretty quickly if they were put in that position."

"At the time of my first transplant my mum wrote a letter to the family to thank them but she never got a reply obviously it was too soon for them.

"I just hope that this family do reply to my letter so I can show how thankful I am."