James Conradi, a 38-year-old father, is in a critical race against time, desperately needing a liver transplant to survive a rare autoimmune disease and aggressive liver cancer. Mr. Conradi has been diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), an incurable chronic liver disease that causes blockages and scarring in the bile ducts. As a severe complication, he was recently diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma, a rare form of liver cancer, and was given the devastating news that a liver transplant is his only chance of survival.

In a cruel turn of events, the life-saving procedure cannot be performed on the NHS. According to transplant criteria, patients with cancer tumors exceeding 2cm are ineligible for a liver transplant. One of Mr. Conradi's tumors measures 2.4cm, just 4 millimetres beyond this critical threshold, effectively barring him from NHS care. Furthermore, he cannot undergo conventional cancer treatment because his liver is already in failure due to the autoimmune disease.

His wife of ten years, padel influencer Laura Kay, 41, has expressed her 'utter fear' and intense pressure to find and fund a living liver donor, as James's medical team has emphasized the urgency of his condition. The cancer is aggressive, and James does not have time to wait for conventional options. The family plans to travel to Istanbul, Turkey, to seek care from a top specialist recommended by their surgeon at the Royal Free Hospital in London, should a suitable living donor be found.

To cover the substantial costs of travel, the surgical procedure, and hospital stay, the family launched a GoFundMe campaign with an ambitious target of £250,000. Within just 24 hours of going live, the fundraiser garnered more than half its target, boosted by celebrity endorsements, including Jason Manford, who helped share Ms. Kay's emotional Instagram appeal. Laura emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, 'This truly is a matter of life or death for my husband. With the transplant he could gain 20 more years as a father and husband and gain so many extra years of happy memories.'

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a rare chronic liver disease, affecting approximately 10,500 individuals in the UK, with about 3,100 new cases diagnosed annually. It involves inflammation, swelling, and scarring (fibrosis) that progressively narrows the bile ducts both inside and outside the liver. There is currently no known cure or specific treatment for PSC, though preliminary trials are ongoing. Individuals with PSC face an increased risk of developing liver cancer, with 6 to 15 percent being diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma, like Mr. Conradi, and a smaller 2 to 3 percent chance of hepatocellular carcinoma, particularly for those with cirrhosis. Medical texts also suggest vitiligo, characterized by white skin patches due to lack of melanin, can be an early symptom of PSC, and current evidence points to a possible trigger by an unknown bacteria or virus in genetically predisposed individuals.

The family is actively searching for living donors, requiring individuals with blood type O, in good overall health, and who have not consumed alcohol for at least six weeks. A living liver transplant involves removing approximately 40 percent of a healthy donor's liver for transplantation. The liver regenerates in both the donor and recipient within weeks, though recovery periods can span several months for the donor and up to a year for the recipient. Ms. Kay described the act of donation as 'the most selfless and loving thing anyone could do,' expressing profound gratitude to those who have come forward.

Both James and Laura have shared their deep emotional struggle and immense gratitude for the outpouring of support. Mr. Conradi remarked, '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.' The family's harrowing experience highlights how desperate situations can bring good people together to offer help, reinforcing their resolve to fight for James's life.