A mother’s love took on new meaning when a London mom made an extraordinary sacrifice to save her young daughter’s life — by giving her a piece of her own liver.

Elle Daniel, 35, donated part of her liver to her 2-year-old daughter, Ruby, in June 2025 after the toddler was diagnosed with liver failure caused by an ultra-rare genetic condition known as PMM2-CDG. The condition affects multiple parts of the body and has no known cure.

“Ruby has an extremely rare condition called PMM2-CDG, and at two years old, she can’t crawl or speak,” Elle shared. “Last year, all the color drained from her, and she was feeling sick most of the time, then she started having seizures.”

Doctors eventually confirmed Ruby’s liver was failing. While the news was devastating, it also came with hope.

“It was the worst news, but also kind of the best news,” Elle said. “Because she had a life-threatening condition, but at least there was an option to fix it.”

That option was a transplant — and Elle didn’t hesitate.

“I decided to be her donor; it was a very natural instinct for a parent,” she said. “I’m fit and healthy, so I figured my liver would be good to go.”

Ruby’s condition had already caused serious challenges. She struggled with speech and movement, suffered seizures, and even had fluid drained from her heart at just nine weeks old. By age two, she couldn’t crawl or talk and was much smaller than other children her age.

Doctors initially planned the transplant for May 2025, but complications with Ruby’s kidneys delayed the surgery until June. When the day finally came, Elle underwent a four-and-a-half-hour operation while Ruby remained in surgery nearby.

“I couldn’t see her for two days after the surgery, because I was completely incapacitated,” Elle said. “It was so nice to be finally reunited.”

The recovery process was long. Ruby spent two months in King’s College Hospital, while Elle spent five days recovering herself. But the results have been nothing short of remarkable.

“Since the surgery, Ruby has so much more energy; she can sit up on her own now, and she’s grown so much,” Elle said. “It’s quite amazing to see. She went from looking like a really poorly child to being much more vibrant.”

Doctors say Ruby’s liver is now functioning properly. “Blood tests that used to hint at liver failure now show a functioning liver,” Elle shared. “She’s grown so much — she’s even bigger than some of my friends’ children.”

Still, the journey isn’t over. Because Ruby must take immune-suppressing medication to prevent organ rejection, she continues to battle frequent infections.

“She’s getting bug after bug,” Elle explained, “and it’s causing issues with her chest.”

Even so, hope remains strong. New treatments — and even a potential cure — for PMM2-CDG are now in early trial stages. Elle is raising awareness and funds through the CDG UK JustGiving page to support research.

“Her life has really improved due to the transplant,” she said. “But she’s still not cured.”

Through it all, this mother’s sacrifice stands as a powerful reminder of unconditional love — and of a parent’s willingness to give everything to give their child a future.