A Bridgwater girl discovered she was in urgent need of a kidney and liver transplant - while having at tooth removed.
Keeleigh Redfern-John, 12, was diagnosed with a rare illness when 14 months old. But she only learned through a blood test while at hospital that her kidney function had dropped to a critical level.
She is now on increased medication and is on the NHS Organ Donor Register for a double transplant.
Mum Tracy said: “I think that trip to the dentist could have saved her life. If it hadn't have been picked up then she would have gone down very quickly.
”Every second counts and I don't want to think about what could have happened if it got to the stage where she was seriously ill. It may be thanks to that rotten tooth that she's here today.”
Keeleigh has been diagnosed with Congenital Hepatic Fibrosis liver disease and Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney disease - which affects only one in 10,000 children.
She has regular blood tests because of her condition, but the next one was not due for another three months. As she was having a tooth removed at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton, Tracy asked if they could check her blood while she was under anaesthetic.
Keeleigh is living at Burnham Holiday Park with her parents and disabled brother Klainton, while a wheelchair drive is being built at their home address.
Keeleigh said: “Being on a waiting list is quite scary, but it's exciting as well, because I can probably get better then. My motto is 'this is the day when my nightmare ends and I get on with my life'.”
The family has had one false alarm but hold out hope Keeliegh will have the transplant soon.
Tracy said: “We got everything ready and the doctors said the kidney was perfect - but the liver was damaged, so it was a no-go. I felt awful and I was shaking like a leaf when I found out.
“She's a little fighter but there are times when she says 'I don't want to do this anymore'.”
Keeliegh's spirits are lifted thanks to regular letters from well-wishers, organised by charity Post Pals.
The team relies on committed volunteers, many whom personally suffer from ill health, to provide daily support to sick children and their families all year round.
· For information on joining the NHS Organ Donotion register, visit http://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/ukt/roadshow.jsp * For more information on Post Pals, visit http://www.postpals.co.uk/
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