A GIRL born with a life-threatening liver condition is going for gold at the British Transplant Games in Leeds.

Seven-year-old Faith Ong, of Blackberry Way, Penwortham, will compete against other children in the obstacle race, ball throw and 50m track event at various locations across the city.

By the end of the games on Sunday, the Howick Primary School pupil hopes to have scooped a bundle of glittering accolades to match the silver medal she won last year in the obstacle race and the bronze she scooped at the games four years ago.

For her parents, Trevlin and Kim, this was a day they thought they would never see. At a few weeks old their first born was diagnosed with the rare bile duct condition, biliary atresia, which prevents the fluid draining properly.

Operating

Tiny Faith was rushed into the operating theatre where surgeons battled to create a new bile duct in order to prevent her liver from failing.

"At the time we were so busy dealing with the situation, we didn't have time to think but we really didn't know if she was going to live or die," said mum Trevlin.

Despite surgeons' best efforts the operation failed and in September 1994 Faith had a life-saving transplant -- but her young body rejected the new liver.

Then, two weeks later, a second donor liver was found and she went under the surgeon's knife for a third time.

Mrs Ong added: "She was only 15 weeks old when we realised she was going to have a transplant . There were nine days between the transplants and for six-months after that there were major complications -- she had infections and pneumonia -- and it was touch and go."

Since then, the young fighter has become stronger, by the age of three she was eager to take part in the transplant games organised by Leeds City Council and various charities.

She threw herself into a host of track and field events and enjoyed swimming and playing volley ball with other transplant survivors -- watched on by her five-year-old younger brother Robin.

Adult participants taking part in these games also have a chance to join competitors from across the globe for the Worldwide Transplant Games with proceeds going to various charities including the Transplant Support Agency of Great Britain.

Mrs Ong added: "We still can't be sure whether Faith will be fine. We just hope her new liver will see her through and we take each day as it comes. But she enjoys taking part in the games which I think are a great idea."