"I was born 7 weeks premature with severe kidney disease, which led to be developing liver disease. It was a miracle that I was breathing when I was delivered.
"Growing up my parents were always told they would only have so many years with me, and my survival rate would not be very long. But as the years went on medication improved, and my life expectancy increased.
"I was very ill as a child but did attend school as normal. I had regular hospital appointments to keep an eye on my kidney and liver functions.
"I had many small procedures growing up, from endoscopies to stents. I had to be careful my stomach wasn’t knocked as this could be fatal. I did have one incident when I was in primary school, I became very unwell and haemorrhaged through the night. Growing up I also had many platelets and blood transfusions to keep me as well as I could be.
"Fast forward to 2006. My kidneys were failing, and I had to go on dialysis. When starting this treatment, I was put on the transplant waiting list. I needed a kidney and liver transplant at the same time.
"After I turned 18, I received the phone call. I was going to have my transplant! I was scared, sad and anxious, but this was my only chance of surviving.
"I received my transplant. There were complications and rejection, but this was all part of the recovery and the ongoing check-ups I have.
"My transplant has allowed me to follow my dreams. I studied Textile Print Design at the University for the Creative Arts, after falling in love with design and embroidery. My final year collection was based on my transplant story, I used my transplant scans to design prints.
"In the last few years, I’ve set up a business designing prints called Elsie Designs, got married and had our beautiful daughter. Giving birth to my daughter wasn’t without its complications. She was born premature due to me getting preeclampsia. I was very ill, and my daughter was in hospital for 4 weeks. Thankfully we’re both better now.
"It is my dream to design and incorporate stories within my prints, it’s part of my journey is to make more awareness of organ donation." - Rachel