Left to right: Stuart Elsom and Sharna Elsom

On 11 June 2014, Private Stuart Elsom was a live liver donor for his little sister, Sharna Elsom. During this time, their family stayed at Fisher House. Seven years later, Stuart is raising money for the home away from home that supported him, and his family, during that difficult time.

Sharna Elsom was born on 5 January 1999, with biliary atresia. Over the next few weeks, Sharna’s condition worsened, and she was admitted to hospitals for tests. The doctors unfortunately confirmed her bile ducts had not formed correctly, causing bile to go back into her liver and cause damage. Sharna underwent a Kasai procedure, a procedure which can surgically bypass the bile ducts and prevent liver damage. Although the Kasai procedure is not a permanent cure for biliary atresia, in many cases it allows patients to grow and remain in good health for several years. It can also delay the need for a liver transplant. For Sharna this procedure, along with medication, worked for 15 years.
Sharna was put on the liver transplant list at 13 years old, however with no suitable donors, her older brother, Stuart, offered to be tested to see if he was a match to be a live liver donor. After three months of tests and scans, the results showed that Stuart was a match!

Stuart Elsom serves at 4 Regiment Royal Logistic Corps within the welfare department as a welfare driver. During this time, Stuart’s welfare officer told him about Fisher House, a home away from home for military patients and their families, on the site of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham. Fisher House opened in 2013 and has since offered free accommodation for thousands of military patients and their families.

Sharna and Stuart’s liver transplant took place on 11 June 2014. On 10 June, Stuart and his wife arrived at the Fisher House, followed by his sister, parents and in-laws later that day. Stuart and Sharna’s family used the facility for six days whilst they were recovering. Unfortunately, two weeks after Stuart was discharged, he was admitted again due to strong pains and breathing difficulties. After some further tests and scans, it was confirmed that Stuart had a bile leak complication, leading to Stuart having a bile drain and a chest drain.

Speaking on the support Fisher House provided during this time, Stuart said: “During the following three weeks, whilst I was in Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Fisher House supported my wife and my three children, and even provided them with free trips to Cadbury world!”
“Fisher House is such an amazing place, and the staff were so welcoming and friendly. The facility has all you could possibly need. Fisher House really is a home away from home.”

Seven years later, Stuart has decided to give back to the charity who provided him and his family with such wonderful care. Stuart, and his colleague Santosh Rai, will be walking around Dalton Barracks for a period of 24 hours. The event will take place on 26 and 27 August 2021, with a goal of covering as much mileage as possible. They will be inviting their regiment to join the challenge and donate.

                                              Left to right: Stuart's colleague and walking partner, Santosh Rai and Stuart Elsom

Senior Fundraising and Communications Officer for University Hospitals Birmingham Charity, Ellie Pocock, said: “It is always really lovely to talk to people who have benefitted from our military home away from home. Stuart and Sharna’s story is truly amazing, and everyone at University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) Charity and Fisher House are so glad to hear of the support their families received during this difficult time. This year, UHB Charity is celebrating Fisher House’s 8th birthday, and we are all so grateful for all the support Fisher House continues to receive.”

If you would like to support Stuart’s fundraising, you can do so here.

And if you would like to find out more about Fisher House, and how you can support, you can find out more here.

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