A toddler is living life to the fullest two years after receiving a liver transplant.

Zac McNab took ill just a few days after being born in July 2022 and was subsequently rushed to Leeds Liver Transplant Centre, one of only three in the UK.

From there, the Clydebank tot waited over three weeks for a successful donor, along with having to overcome numerous medical complications including a blood disorder. 

Zac's mum Arlene McNab opened up on what was a traumatic time for the family.

"We were really excited about having another baby," she said.

"We already have a son who just turned three before Zac was born and were excited for him to have a little brother.

(Image: Brian McNab) "However, things took a turn quickly when Zac got sick and it was all a bit of a blur from there in terms of him being taken to Leeds and then being on the transplant list.

"It was a really stressful and upsetting time for all of us."

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Thankfully, help did arrive and Zac matched with a relevant donor.

He was only five weeks old at the time of the transplant and weighed just three-and-a-half kilos.

Dad Brian McNab said" We were told that when he was put on the transplant list, there was a good chance that because of his size and age, that we probably wouldn’t find one.

"So when the call came we were so relieved.

"The bit that hit me hardest beforehand was taking Zac into the hospital in the car seat and then leaving his wee bundle of clothes in the car.

"I was told to give him a kiss goodbye in case he did not make the flight.

"We have moved on so much since then. We have gone from not knowing if he was going to survive to now having a toddler at nursery and is completely normal."

Arlene and Brian are sharing their family's story as part of Organ Donation Tissue Week which takes place from Monday to Friday September 23 to 29 this year.

The event aims to raise awareness about the ongoing need for organ donors.

(Image: Brian McNab) In 2017, after a long-running campaign led by the Glasgow Times, the law surrounding donors was changed meaning people had to opt-out rather than opt-in to becoming a donor.

Now, if people aged 16 and over choose to do nothing, it is assumed they agree to be a donor if they die in circumstances where donation is possible, unless they are in a group for whom the opt-out system does not apply, or it would be against their views

Zac is proof of how vital the process is.

He now receives medicine three times a day and no longer needs to use a feeding tube.

This has left his family feeling hopeful for the future.

Arlene added: "It has been a long journey and it now thankfully seems like a distant memory.

"The transplant means we have our son back," Arlene added. 

"We just hope Zac will have as normal a life as possible and get to enjoy things.

"We are so grateful to Zac’s donor and donor family for making such a selfless decision at the worst time of their life."