THE family of a seriously ill toddler have been told she will die unless she has a double transplant.

Sienna Smith needs a new liver and a section of intestine if she is to overcome a rare condition that left her with organs on the outside of her body.

The two-year-old, from Emley Moor Road, in the Firthmoor area of Darlington, was born six weeks early with gastroschisis.

The condition, which affects one in 2,000 babies, means her intestines developed on the outside of her stomach.

Immediately after she was born, an emergency operation removed 70 per cent of her bowel, and she had to spend six weeks on a life support machine.

She battled back to health, but the diet she was placed on during that time left her liver seriously damaged. Last week, her family were told she must have a liver and bowel transplant.

Her grandmother, Alison McFadyen, said: “You would not know anything is wrong with her to look at her, she has always just been a happy little baby, always smiling.

“The doctors told us that if she does not have this operation, she will die.”

Mrs Fadyen, 44, said the family had found it hard to come to terms with the situation.

She said: “We are all distraught.

She is like anybody’s child, she is absolutely gorgeous.

We are heartbroken.”

Because of the severity of her condition, Sienna must now receive treatment in Birmingham, instead of the Royal Victoria Infirmary, in Newcastle, where she has spent most of her life.

To help the family with expenses, including travel, residents of the Firthmoor area will hold a fundraising coffee afternoon.

The event will take place in Firthmoor Community Centre, in Burnside Road, from 1pm to 3pm tomorrow.

Kevin Nicholson, the chairman of Firthmoor and District Community Association, said: “It is important that this community comes together to help this family and to raise awareness of Sienna’s condition.

We have to get involved and help this family, and get as many people on board as we can.”

All are welcome to the event.