hi im in sunderland,england and i am only 45 but luckily they did my op and removed and reconstructed portal vein with vein from my neck in oct 07. Very sorry to hear bout your mam. Dr Manas did my op but only because of my young age he said as very risky.This was done at Freemans, Newcastle-upon-tyne. Im awaiting scan in April so little scared as that will tell us how gone.