AT 18, TRANSPLANT GIRL IS YOUNGEST TO GET A GONG

A TEENAGER who overcame three liver transplants is the youngest recipient on the list.

Lucia Quinney Mee, 18, had her first life-saving transplant after suffering acute liver failure when she was eight, and now campaigns for information about organ donation to be included in the school curriculum.

The teenager, from Ballycastle in County Antrim, is to receive the British Empire Medal for services to promoting public awareness about organ donation.

She set up the campaign group Live Loudly Donate Proudly in 2015 to encourage people to talk more about becoming organ donors, and has competed in the British and World Transplant Games as a swimmer.

Lucia spent much of her childhood in hospitals and now hopes to study medicine at university. She said she hoped her award would encourage more people to speak to their families about donating organs after their death.

She said: ‘The fact I’m here and really able to do this is down to the fact there are organ donors. If people know their loved ones’ wishes, they are more likely to say yes to organ donation.’