A Toronto woman who received a desperately needed liver transplant is recovering in hospital Wednesday after her daughter's high-profile appeal for help.

Lidia Sorbara underwent the transplant procedure early Tuesday morning at Toronto General Hospital, her daughter Alyssa told reporters outside the hospital.

The 46-year-old woman is expected to remain in an induced coma for several days.

Sorbara suffers from Wilson's disease, a genetic disorder that prevents the body from getting rid of extra copper and can lead to organ failure. She also has a rare blood type and none of her family members was a match after her liver failed a few months ago.

Her 19-year-old daughter, who launched a public campaign for a live donor two weeks ago, said she was "overcome with joy" when she was told late Monday that doctors had found an organ.

"I was jumping up and down," she said.

But in the end, the only match was the liver from a donor who had died.

Daughter urges public to become live donors

After Alyssa's public appeals, more than 1,000 people from across the country came forward and offered to become live donors.

"It's just overwhelming that so many people wanted to help, total strangers," she said.

But Alyssa said her mother's case shows the need for people to become live donors and sign their donor cards.

George Marcello, founder and CEO of the Step by Step foundation, which does advocacy work surrounding organ and tissue donations, hailed Alyssa as the "strongest woman I've met."

Marcello said he hopes the publicity surrounding the case will lead to the creation of a live liver registry, and noted that 4,000 other Canadians are on a waiting list for a liver donation.