Father-of-one, 38, recently diagnosed with cancer is denied liver transplant ‘because his tumour is 4mm too big’

A father is facing certain death unless he hits an ambitious fundraising target for a liver transplant – after the NHS ruled him ineligible for a life-saving op. 

James Conradi, 38, has a rare autoimmune disease called primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) which causes blockages in the bile ducts. There is no cure, and the only way to survive the disease is to undergo a liver transplant.

Last week, he was diagnosed with a rare form of liver cancer called cholangiocarcinoma – a well-known complication of PSC – and was given the devastating news that his only chance of survival is to undergo the risky organ transplant operation. 

But, in a cruel twist of fate, it is not a procedure that can be done on the NHS because the father-of-one’s tumours are millimetres too big.

Mr Conradi’s wife of ten years, padel influencer Laura Kay, 41, said: ‘Due to transplant criteria within the NHS, patients like James are not eligible for a liver transplant if their cancer tumours exceed 2cm.

‘One of James’s tumours measures just 4 millimetres beyond this threshold which means he can’t have the operation on the NHS.’ 

And, frustratingly, he can’t undergo cancer treatment because his liver is so damaged. 

Ms Kay told the Daily Mail: ‘He is in liver failure from the autoimmune disease. 

‘The reason why he developed cancer was because he didn’t have a liver transplant before the cancer had a chance to develop.’ 

Ms Kay has spoken of her ‘utter fear’ at the prospect of losing her husband, and is feeling the pressure or finding – and funding – a living liver donor after James’ medical team told the couple that time was not on their side. 

She said: ‘The cancer is so aggressive and James does not have time to wait. Unless we can get it done abroad, he won’t survive.’

Primary sclerosing cholangitis is a chronic liver disease in which the bile ducts – the tubes that carry bile from the liver to the small intestines – become narrowed from inflammation, swelling and scarring called fibrosis.

Over time, the scar tissue builds up and can block parts of the bile ducts completely. The blockages can form inside the liver (intrahepatic) or outside the liver (extrahepatic).

The incurable disease affects more men than women, and is typically diagnosed between the ages of 25 and 60. There are around 10.500 cases in the UK. 

People with primary sclerosing cholangitis are more likely to develop liver cancer, with six to 15 per cent being diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma, like Mr Conradi. There are around 3,100 cases of PSC diagnosed in the UK annually.

There is a lesser, two to three per cent, chance of people with PSC developing a type of liver cancer called hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Those who have been left with cirrhosis (scarring) of the blood-cleaning organ are particularly at risk.

 

If a suitable living donor for Mr Conradi is found, the family plan to travel to Istanbul as soon as possible to go under the care of a top specialist that their surgeon at the Royal Free Hospital in London has recommended. 

To fund the travel and operation costs, the family have set up a gofundme page with a target of 250k that will be needed to cover everything from flights to and from Turkey, the procedure itself and hospital stay. 

Within just 24 hours of the fundraiser going live, more than half of that had already been raised, with celebrities like Jason Manford helping to share an emotional Instagram post made by Ms Kay and the fundraising appeal.

‘This truly is a matter of life or death for my husband,’ Ms Kay added. ‘With the transplant he could gain 20 more years as a father and husband and gain so many extra years of happy memories.’

Acknowledging that several selfless people have already come forward offering to be living donors, Mrs Kay is still desperately searching for more options as they will need to go through vigorous screening tests. 

‘Alongside fundraising for the transplant journey, we need people with blood type O who are in good overall health and who have not consumed alcohol for at least six weeks,’ she explained. 

‘If you think you could be a match please reach out. We are eternally grateful.’

A living liver transplant donor operation involves removing around 40 per cent of a healthy person’s liver to transplant it into a recipient. 

The operation takes around five to eight hours and the liver regenerates in both the donor and recipient within weeks. Recovery rates vary, with several months for the donor and up to a year for the recepitent. 

‘For someone to step forward and help save my husband’s life, they’d be no words to know how to thank them,’ Ms Kay said. ‘It is the most selfless and loving thing anyone could do.

‘I’m not ready to lose the love of my life in such horrendous circumstances. 

‘My heart is in pieces as he is the centre of our world and the best father to our nine-year-old son Harrison. The fear is too much to bear.’

The response to Ms Kay’s raw and emotional video appeal and fundraising campaign has had such an impact on her loved ones and strangers who have donated, that she has spoken of her family feeling ‘truly loved in the worst of times’

Mr Conradi added: ‘My heart is hurting but also melting at the kindness of strangers.

‘I desperately need to beat this and stay alive for Laura and my son. 

If any good has come out of this dire situation it is that when a desperate situation arises, good people come together to try to help.

‘I have to fight for my life as there’s no other way. Please help me stay alive.’