Bethany Salmon, of Mountain Road, Thornhill, is now at the top of the transplant list after twice having her hopes for a new organ dashed.

Last month, Bethany was twice called into hospital but on both occasions the donor liver was unsuitable.

Her family is now waiting for the all-important phone call from the transplant co-ordinator.

Mum Sam said: "Every time the phone rings, we jump out of our skin."

From birth, the Overthorpe JIN pupil has suffered from progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis, a very rare genetic condition which affects just 30 children in the UK.

Her parents always knew she would need a transplant before the age of 10, but it became more urgent when doctors found pre-cancerous cells in Bethany's liver in October.

Now, if she doesn't have a transplant, cancer will develop. The discovery meant Bethany was rushed straight onto the list.

On December 22, the family thought Christmas had come early when Sam got a phone call saying a liver had been found. But the organ was unsuitable.

Sam said: "It was too small. We are really hopeful that another child has got it, that it has saved somebody."

And on December 30, the family was again called in to St James's Hospital, Leeds. It was only when Bethany was in a surgical gown that the family was told the operation was off. Surgeons had tried to make a liver from an adult donor suitable for a child but it hadn't worked.

Although both false alarms were a huge disappointment, it means the family have rehearsed what they will do when the next call comes. Dad Tony said: "There's a pile of suitcases at the bottom of the stairs, which we throw into the boot of the car, ring Sam's dad, let him know he's looking after the dog and cat and off we go."

But it may be a longer wait for Bethany's next transplant opportunity as the Christmas increase in accidents is now over, so fewer organs become available.

Sam said: "Even though we had two calls in just over a week we might not get another one for a while, although we always hold out hope that today is the day, every day."

Tony added: "There's always complications, post-transplant. She will be in intensive care for two or three days then onto the ward."

She will also be on anti-rejection drugs for the rest of her life.

Sam said she hoped that anyone hearing about Bethany's situation would be inspired to sign up to the NHS Organ Donor Register.

To join, visit www.uktransplant.org.uk.