Former patient Brenda Ann Marchant has left an £80,000 legacy to help Royal Free liver transplant patients.
Brenda requested in her will that proceeds from her estate were to go to help the Royal Free Hospital Liver Transplant Patient Support Group, which helped her for many years during her illness.
”Brenda had very strong feelings for the people who helped her throughout her life; she used to make friends with other patients on the ward and they all supported each other,” said her closest friend Fenella Bootes.
In a final and poignant farewell, Brenda’s friends came to the Royal Free to hand over the cheque and speak to some of the staff involved in her care including: Dr David Patch, consultant hepatologist, Dr James Dooley, consultant hepatologist and Linda Selves, transplant coordinator.
Brenda first came to the Royal Free Hospital in the late 70’s and was diagnosed with PSC (Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis), a chronic liver disease where the body’s bile ducts begin to affect the liver.
Fenella said: “Brenda loved to play sports and had a very active outlook on life so it came as quite a shock to her to be diagnosed with such a disease.”

Brenda’s life was plagued with tragedy and her life was about to be turned even more upside down. Her father sadly passed away in September 1981 and a few days later on 10 September – on the day of his funeral - her husband Bob, daughter Paula and son Lee were killed in a terrible car accident. Brenda’s sister Maureen, although seriously injured survived the accident.
"Brenda suffered from ill health for some time and this tragedy was a harsh and heavy burden for her to bear,” said Fenella.
Her ill-health meant that she had to make frequent trips to the Royal Free Hospital for treatment. Eventually she underwent a liver transplantation at the Royal Free in 1995.
Dr Dooley said: “Brenda had a real positive energy and spirit about her. I felt she had a lot of emotions bubbling underneath but she was always in good spirits. All the tragedy that she experienced was not expressed on the outside.”
Following a liver transplant, through the process of recovery and for the rest of her life, Brenda sought great solace from the Royal Free’s Liver Transplant Patient Support Group.
Brenda’s friends Alan, Fenella and her husband Brian fondly recall accompanying Brenda on the journeys to the Royal Free and her lengthy visits to the ladies room - where they later discovered she would be using her gas tongs to make sure her hair was immaculate for her appointment. Fenella said: “Brenda had a love of fashion, she would never be caught looking scruffy and always wanted to look her best no matter how she felt.”
Over the years Brenda went on many holidays with her friends, including to Malta, Holland, Portugal, the Canary Islands and later camping trips in the UK.

Dr David Patch said: “Thanks so very much for this generous donation. In our line of work we don’t just meet and treat patients but we get to know them, and it was our pleasure and privilege to look after Brenda.”
He added: “The money will be spent on the liver ward and will be a great provision of patient care.”