‘Miracle’ birthday for lung patient Liam, 12

6:09am Sunday 25th March 2007

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Last year, Liam Costello was fighting for his life, his breathing hampered by a rare lung condition.

Convinced their 11-year-old boy would not survive, his distraught parents asked a priest to read him his last rites.

But on Saturday, a delighted Liam celebrated his 12th birthday surrounded by his friends, thanks to a life-saving double lung transplant.

Liam, from Phipps Bridge in Mitcham, was diagnosed with pulmonary veino-occlusive disease last April - a rare condition which restricted the oxygen supply to his lungs.

Mum Dion Smith said: "At first the only sign was a cough. Then the next thing we knew, we were in KFC and he turned blue and had to be rushed to the hospital. He began coughing up blood and no one knew what was wrong with him."

After his diagnosis, Liam's condition worsened and by October the Wimbledon College student was confined to the high dependency unit at St George's Hospital.

The next month, Liam received his last rites and doctors said that without a double lung transplant he would not survive.

But just four days after being placed on the waiting list, a suitable donor was found.

"It was exceptionally quick," said Mrs Smith. "The blood type matched, but even though the tissue didn't, Liam was so ill that they couldn't afford not to go ahead."

The night before the major operation at Great Ormond Street Hospital, brave Liam made a will and asked for his brothers and sisters to have his presents if he did not live until Christmas.

But to everyone's delight, Liam survived the operation and was well enough to be discharged from hospital just in time for his birthday on February 28.

And on Saturday his family threw a surprise party for Liam and 25 of his friends, and the Purley Megabowl opened up its venue free of charge.

Mrs Smith said: "For ages, he's just been around doctors and adults. Now he's looking forward to being a normal boy again.

"I can't wait till he's playing football, and turning up at home with his shoes dirty and his trousers ripped.

"It's an absolute miracle he's alive and without the transplant we wouldn't have our special son."