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Original poster

Every parent's worst nightmare - please help

383 replies

Rosieted · 02/04/2023 11:36

Twelve weeks ago my cousin's daughter was a healthy and happy 10 year old, enjoying a sleepover for her birthday and dancing with her friends way past her bedtime. Then all of a sudden, just after Christmas, her parents noticed strange bruising on her body. They didn't think it was anything serious but took her to her GP who ran her bloods. When the results came back everyone was in shock - they showed that her bone marrow had suddenly stopped working and after various tests she was diagnosed with a very rare and incredibly serious blood condition called aplastic anemia.

She is now in hospital having regular transfusions of red blood cells and platelets which are keeping her alive. In order to be cured she needs a stem cell transplant, and fast.

Her brother sadly isn't a match. Nor is anyone currently on the stem cell donor registry. My beautiful relative is now very poorly in hospital and is reliant on a total stranger to do something amazing and donate some of their stem cells to save her life.

I had no idea, but 90% of stem cell donations are taken from a donor's blood in much the same way as giving blood - it's pretty simple, yet it could save someone's life.

If you are reading this, please could you consider joining the donor stem cell registry. You could be the match that my god daughter needs. A group of her friends have set up a campaign called #swabyourgob and you can sign up to join the registry by ordering your free mouth swab kit from www.dkms.org.uk/swabyourgob

Even if you are not a match for her, you could be for the many people each year who need the kindness of a total stranger to save their lives.

Thank you so much for reading x

Register as a potential donor

To become a potential blood stem cell donor, just check your eligibility and request a swab kit.

http://www.dkms.org.uk/swabyourgob

OP posts:
golddustwomen · 02/04/2023 12:38

Have just registered. I really hope they find a match soon Flowers

Blessedbethefknfruit · 02/04/2023 12:40

I'm already signed up to be a donor, I really hope you find a match soon!

MisgenderedSwan · 02/04/2023 12:42

Just registered for a swab pack. I hope you find a donor soon.

growgrowinggrown · 02/04/2023 12:43

I've just registered, strong believer if you're willing to receive you have to be willing to give so happy to know about this.
Stupidly never crossed my mind I needed to do anything more than register to give blood to be considered for these types of things so thankyou for being awareness.

hippygirllucky · 02/04/2023 12:44

Just registered!

Burgerqueenbee · 02/04/2023 12:46

Absolutely gutted I am not eligible due to diabetes, I will encourage everyone else I know that would be eligible to sign up.
I hope you find a donor match soon Flowers

halfthishalfthat · 02/04/2023 12:47

Dear OP, just reaching out with deepest sympathy. My daughter was diagnosed with high-risk AML (leukemia) in 2018, just after her 21st birthday. Her sister was not a match either, but she was lucky and there was a match in the DKMS data bank. She was transplanted in July 2018 and is still cancer free. At the time, my colleague organised an awareness day at our workplace to encourage other colleagues to register. My daughter has also featured in some videos for the DKMS in Germany to raise awareness. While we were waiting for the results of the data base search, we were told that parents are always a 50% match, and while that is not ideal for a transplant, it would have been a possibility in our case if we hadn't found a match. My daughter has since met her saviour, a young woman from the north of Germany. We will be eternally grateful to her. My family are all registered and I hope from the bottom of my heart that your relative will find her match too.

Bloomingcancer · 02/04/2023 12:48

Bump. Not eligible either but a big big thank you to everyone on here who already is or is signing up. 💐💐💐

sqirrelfriends · 02/04/2023 12:51

I’ve already registered but wanted to say that I hope a match is found soon.

MuggedByTheSleepThief · 02/04/2023 12:51

Registered - thanks for the steer and I hope your god daughter finds her match x

Bagpuss2022 · 02/04/2023 12:52

Glad your bringing awareness to this, My Dsis had the call up last year such an important and easy thing you can do to help someone

katsue · 02/04/2023 12:52

Registered

DomPom47 · 02/04/2023 12:55

Registered.
Sending best wishes 💐

nothingcomestonothing · 02/04/2023 12:56

I had no idea, but 90% of stem cell donations are taken from a donor's blood in much the same way as giving blood - it's pretty simple, yet it could save someone's life.

I really hope your relative gets a match - as a PP said upthread, a parent might be a viable option if a better match can't be found.

Giving stem cells for a transplant involves a bit more than giving blood, including GCSF injections for a few days before donating, and one or two days of sitting in hospital with a wide bore cannula in both arms, so I think anyone wanting to donate should look into it properly. I'm not trying to put anyone off, donors are very well looked after and it's an amazing thing to do.

Mincepiemouse · 02/04/2023 12:58

I signed up around 4 years ago following the campaign for another child but have never been called up. I hope a match is found for her very soon.

cadburyegg · 02/04/2023 12:59

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

WashAsDelicates · 02/04/2023 12:59

Sending hopes and wishes for a donor to be identified very soon.

I've been on the Anthony Nolan register almost since it was founded, but I've never been called, despite being of a minority ethnic group.

cadburyegg · 02/04/2023 13:01

Sorry, looks like it's up to age 40 but men only.

Testarossa44 · 02/04/2023 13:01

Signed up for a swab pack

EnjoyingTheArmoire · 02/04/2023 13:05

I'm not eligible, but will bump this up active instead. 💐

NicolaSturGONE · 02/04/2023 13:06

It looks like my health prevents me but I wish you good luck finding someone.

theworldhasgoneinsane · 02/04/2023 13:08

Just signed up for the swab kit. Wishing you all the best of luck and I hope your good daughter gets the treatment she needs.

TellerTuesday · 02/04/2023 13:09

I registered a couple of years ago when a local girl (I think she was 9 at the time) had a similar situation.

I've never had a call up but would be happy help if I matched anyone in need.

The positive news is that the girl in question found a match and has made an amazing recovery since the transfer.

Best wishes to your niece and all the family xx

Pip1402 · 02/04/2023 13:09

I've just signed up. Thanks for raising awareness of this. I hope you find a match soon Flowers

nonevernotever · 02/04/2023 13:11

I've just registered