Amy Hood mainly has to be fed by tube

Amy Hood, from Chelmsford, Essex, has biliary atresia and needs a transplant to save her life.

At least two children a day are diagnosed with liver disease in Britain and Amy's parents are appealing to people to sign up for organ donation.

Catherine Arkley, of the Children's Liver Disease Foundation, said there was a shortage of donors.

Because Amy's condition makes absorbing food difficult, much of her nutrition and the drugs have to be fed to her through a tube.

I know it must be hard for anyone who loses a family member but as the end of the day they could be helping someone else to live Vicky Hood

Her mother, Vicky, said she hated Amy having to have the tube: "But at the end of the day you have to get on with it because it is the thing that is keeping her alive.

"Without that she wouldn't be putting on the weight and without the weight she wouldn't be able to have the transplant.

"What we want is for more people to sign up for organ donor cards because there is a shortage of donors.

"I know it must be hard for anyone who loses a family member but as the end of the day they could be helping someone else to live."

Mrs Arkley said children were waiting longer on the transplant list and becoming more sick.

More children were dying of liver disease than from childhood leukaemia, she added.

"I would urge people to go on the organ transplant site and register their wishes," she said.