``Right from the start, Children’s Liver Disease Foundation were there for us with clear information about Emily’s diagnosis and what it meant for her. To us, this was invaluable.
When you’re feeling frightened and emotional, it’s hard having to repeat yourself when answering the questions of family and friends, so having information we could easily share was such a help.
Also, through CLDF we’ve been able to meet other families whose children have rare liver diseases which has been great for us and for Emily.
Looking forward, I feel the support available for teens will be a lifeline. While it’s hard enough just being a teenager, grappling with the consequences of liver disease and transplant throws in extra issues to deal with.
It’s reassuring for us to know that CLDF are there to support her and put her in touch with others her age who know just what she’s going through.``

– Jane, Emily's mum

Funding from Big Yellow Friday enables us to provide financial grants to a variety of research projects exploring childhood liver disease.

Dr Jake Mann is just one of the scientists whose work benefits from this funding. His study focuses on the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in children who have received treatment for craniopharyngioma brain tumours. Young craniopharyngioma tumour patients are more at risk for developing obesity and NAFLD, due to the tumour's position within the brain area that controls appetite and hormone levels. However it is still not understood why NAFLD develops quicker in these patients than other children with obesity.

This research project has also lead to the development of a blood test that could become clinical practice within five years, reducing the need for a liver biopsy in the management of paediatric NAFLD. Dr Jake Mann commented:

“It is early days, but the results of the research are promising and could help shift the way we understand and manage paediatric NAFLD: saving resources, time, and stress for children and their parents.”

Being a young person with a liver disease can often make you feel like an outsider – that no-one understands or cares about what you’re going through. Through CLDF I’ve realised that lots of people care, and I do matter. It’s made a real difference to me, and I want everyone in my situation to benefit from that.