The four-year-old celebrated her big day in style with a huge birthday cake and a giant ‘Wish Box’ packed with toys donated by the Albany branch of the Make A Wish Foundation.

However, things could have turned out very differently for the young Albany girl.

At six weeks old, Didi was diagnosed with biliary atresia, a rare and life-threatening illness where the common bile duct between the liver and small intestine is blocked or absent.

After an unsuccessful operation to treat the condition, Didi was placed on the organ transplant waiting list and finally received her liver transplant on September 25, 2005 – seven agonising months later.

Didi’s mum, Kaylene, is philosophical about her daughter’s remarkable recovery and full of praise for the anonymous donor whose organ saved her life.

“We considered ourselves lucky, because 20 per cent of people don’t make the wait for a transplant,” Mrs Kusak said. “Didi wouldn’t be here if organ donation wasn’t an option.

“The whole situation forces you to reflect on the decision another family has made. I don’t know how I can ever thank them.”

More than 100 people are currently waiting for a kidney, liver, heart or lung transplant in WA.