Cystic fibrosis sufferer who became the face of organ donor campaign dies

A young woman with cystic fibrosis has lost her battle for survival after spending years on the transplant list waiting for new lungs.

Kerry Thorpe was the face of a powerful organ donation campaign, behind the slogan: 'I'd give her one', but passed away aged just 23 before new lungs could be found.

Kerry was diagnosed with the condition as a baby. It's a genetic condition that causes the lungs and digestive system to become clogged with mucus and often leads to recurrent chest infections.

Her condition worsened in recent years and she was told she would need a lung transplant - but first needed to gain weight and get her diabetes under control. Miraculously she did this and was put on the transplant waiting list.

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In 2011 she fronted a campaign to encourage people to become organ donors. The charity, Live Life Then Give Life, said even after her death Kerry was still helping their campaign as people flock to its Facebook page.

In a blog post written when Kerry was first put on the waiting list she said: "Before I was listed, I was seeing myself going downhill fast, day-by-day. Yet there was no hope to cling onto, no light at the end of the tunnel, I was absolutely stuck in limbo but I still kept the belief and I carried on.

"But now it’s different, no matter how ill I feel or how much of a bad day I am having, I have that hope of a call, and that is something I can hold onto because a call could come at literally any second, it’s exciting but damn right nerve-wracking at the same time!!!"

Posting on a tribute page ‘The Kerry Alex Thorpe Trust’ Kerry's fiancé Joshua Nelli, 26, said: "This page has been set up in memory of my inspiring fiancée Kerry Alex Thorpe.

"Although her time with us was cut far too short she managed to make some amazing friends and raise an incredible amount of awareness for both cystic fibrosis and the desperate need for organ donation.

"Myself and her family are passionate that all of Kerry’s hard work doesn’t go to waste so we will continue her legacy even after she’s gone.."

Kerry passed away in hospital with her family and puppies by her side.