An 'amazing' teenager has spent her 14th birthday in a coma after undergoing major surgery at Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Lucy Palin-Morgan, from Ellesmere Port, has a rare heart condition called Carvajal Syndrome that only a handful of other people across the globe suffer with.
The condition causes the 14-year-old to have symptoms such as heart disease, wool-like hair and thickening of the skin on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, reports Cheshire Live.
Lucy's sister Bethany said the condition is so rare she was the fourth known case worldwide when she was born in 2007.
The 22-year-old said their other sister Aliesha, who was also born with the disease, sadly died from the condition when she was just eight years old in 2008.
The young schoolgirl had suffered two debilitating strokes before her sudden death - she was the third such case known worldwide at the time.
A number of years later, the Ellesmere Port family were dealt another blow when the youngest of the family, 10-year-old Thomas, was also diagnosed with the condition.
Bethany, the oldest in the family, is the only one not to have Carvajal Syndrome.
Bethany said: "Lucy has a rare heart condition called Carvajal Syndrome which affects the hair, skin and heart.
"The symptoms include her hair being woolly, not like usual hair and it affects her skin. Mainly on the hands and feet. It's quite dry and flaky and can be sore.
"In 2008 we lost our sister Aliesha when she was eight, which was really, really sad and when Lucy was born doctors kept a close eye on her."
Around four years ago, teenager Lucy had to have a device implanted into her heart to regulate the rhythm due to her condition.
However, over a year ago the doctors started to talk about a heart transplant as the organ had deteriorated.
Lucy was then placed on the organ transplant list on Boxing Day by doctors.
But just nine days later on January 4, two days before Lucy's 14th birthday, the family got a call to say a donor was found.
Big sister Bethany added: "Just over a year ago doctors started talking about Lucy having a heart transplant.
"She was put on the list on Boxing Day and just nine days later we got a call to say a donor had been found.
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"It was a shock because Lucy has a rare blood type as well and we had nothing prepared.
"She was taken to Great Ormond Street Hospita l in London by ambulance and my mum and dad went with her."
After the operation, the family was told the distressing news that Lucy's body was rejecting the transplant.
The next morning, Bethany said the family was told by doctors Lucy was the sickest child on the ward.
Bethany said: "We're not sure why but the heart from the donor was quite inflamed and Lucy's body was starting to reject it.
"The next morning we were told Lucy was the sickest child on the ward and we were not sure what we were going to get from this.
"It was very scary."
The brave teen was put in a medically induced coma and spent her 14th birthday in hospital not awake to celebrate it, leaving the family heartbroken.
Older sister Bethany added: "It was heartbreaking not being able to wish her a happy birthday and her being in critical care.
"It's been a stressful time, we were shocked and the fact we have all been separated has been hard.
"But we as a family are so strong and Lucy is amazing, she has always just got on with it."
The 22-year-old said Lucy is a huge James Arthur fan and the family are now hoping the star can wish Lucy a belated happy birthday.
Bethany said: "Lucy is a huge James Arthur fan and is always listening to him.
"She loves that they are songs she can sing to. Lucy can also really sing - I am not just saying that because I am her sister!
"She lacks confidence but I hope after all this she will see how good she is and pursues it.
"I have been trying to contact James on Instagram and Twitter, we would love him to say happy birthday."
Bethany said Lucy is slowly waking up, but is under a lot of sedation and currently very drowsy.
She said: "Her heart is improving every day and is doing so amazing, I can’t describe how proud she is making us."
