A 25-year-old man from the United Kingdom has shared his extraordinary health journey after waking up with bright yellow skin caused by a rare liver condition, joking that he looked like cartoon character Bart Simpson.
Kieran Cooper, from Northwich in Cheshire, experienced severe jaundice earlier this year after his liver condition worsened, forcing him to undergo a second liver transplant.
Now recovering from the life-saving operation, he hopes his story will raise awareness of the rare disease that has affected him since infancy.
Rare Condition Diagnosed Shortly After Birth
Kieran was diagnosed with biliary atresia when he was just a baby. The rare condition affects newborns by preventing the bile ducts from developing properly, causing bile to build up in the liver and leading to serious liver damage if left untreated.
At only seven weeks old, he underwent his first operation, but it was unsuccessful. Before his first birthday, he required a liver transplant in 2002.
Following the transplant, Kieran enjoyed many years of relatively good health before complications began appearing in 2014. His condition gradually deteriorated, and by 2023 he had been placed on the waiting list for another liver transplant.
Woke Up Looking ‘Like Bart Simpson’
In January 2026, Kieran began feeling unwell before going to bed. The following morning, his family noticed that his skin and eyes had turned an intense shade of yellow.
His mother, Kerry Cooper, said the jaundice became so severe that his skin appeared almost luminous while he was receiving treatment in hospital.
She recalled that the family joked he looked like Bart Simpson because of the unusually bright yellow colour, although the situation was anything but humorous.
Doctors rushed Kieran to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, where he spent five weeks receiving treatment. During that time, his condition deteriorated and he was admitted to intensive care.
His mother admitted she feared he would not survive the ordeal.
Second Liver Transplant Saved His Life
Kieran eventually underwent his second liver transplant on Feb. 28, bringing an end to months of worsening illness.
He said the jaundice made him extremely self-conscious, with strangers often staring at him whenever he went outside.
Following the transplant, however, the yellow colouring disappeared almost immediately as his new liver began functioning normally.
Although relieved that his appearance returned to normal, recovery was far from easy.
Lifelong Medication And Regular Hospital Visits
Kieran said the pain after surgery was far worse than before the transplant, and he even had to learn how to walk again during his recovery.
He now attends hospital appointments every six weeks and will need to take medication for the rest of his life to prevent his body from rejecting the transplanted liver.
Unable to work because of his health, Kieran said he is grateful to be alive despite everything he has endured.
He hopes sharing his experience will encourage greater awareness of biliary atresia and remind others not to ignore symptoms of liver disease, as early treatment can make a significant difference.