A 14-year-old girl from Worcester is facing her second Christmas on the list for a life-saving heart transplant.

Anna Hadley, of Red Hill, is one of 48 people in the county on the waiting list for an organ transplant. She has restrictive cardiomyopathy and has been on the list for 18 months.

She said: “Christmas Day is always spent at home with my family. I love opening my presents on Christmas morning. My favourite part of Christmas dinner is the sprouts, I always eat those first.

“One of my favourite thing about Christmas is sitting on the couch, in front of the fire with a hot chocolate watching a Christmas film like Polar Express.

“I treat every day the same and don’t think about the heart transplant at all. Christmas is such a great time and I have wondered what a Christmas day might be like inside hospital.

“I can’t really go abroad because I need to stay in the UK, just in case a donor is found. As soon as I am allowed, I want to go skiing and have a snowy Christmas.

“I was diagnosed with heart failure one month before going on a school ski trip, which then had to be cancelled. So I am determined to fulfil that dream of skiing down a mountain.

“Christmas Day is the one day each year when we offer gifts to our own family, but every day we can offer the biggest gift of all to everyone else by being registered as an organ donor. There is no greater gift than life and everyone could save nine lives though donation.

“It’s so important for families to share donation wishes because too many valuable organs are lost, while thousands of people are waiting for a life-saving transplant.

“I am lucky because I feel quite well most days and hope that continues.

“If a donor is found then I am ready and excited about receiving a healthy heart and getting back to playing hockey again.

“I don’t think there is a better New Year resolution anyone could make than registering as a donor and telling family and friends about it.”