This board exists primarily for the use of Black Mumsnetters. Others are welcome to post but please be respectful.
This board exists primarily for the use of Black Mumsnetters. Others are welcome to post but please be respectful.
Black Mumsnetters
Please consider registering as stem cell donor - its an equalities issue
madamceladon · 05/04/2022 13:30
Dear Black mumsnetters
I am a MN user working on a campaign to increase stem cell donor registration and cord blood donation, especially by BAME communities, to try to save my friend's life.
If you are in London we are running a donor registration event in Chinatown on Sunday 24 April.
//www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/swabforyvette-stem-cell-donor-drive-in-chinatown-tickets-311882387617
If you are pregnant and able to donate cord blood (its only offered at Luton and Dunstable Hospital, St George’s Hospital and University College London Hospital), or if you are under 40 (pregnant or not) please consider registering as a stem cell donor.
My friend Yvette Chin is dying of a rare blood cancer and her only hope for survival is to find a match for stem cell therapy.
Yvette is mixed race Chinese and Jamaican.
White UK patients have a 70% chance of finding a genetic match through the registries, and BAME patients about 25% - it is even harder for mixed race patients. (Source Anthony Nolan charity).
We are campaigning on this as an equalities issue.
More info on our campaign website:
//www.swabforyvette.com/
She's been in the media - listen to minute 39 to hear her interviewed here on BBC London.
//www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0btn6kb
metro.co.uk/2022/03/29/woman-with-cancer-cant-find-stem-cell-donor-because-shes-mixed-race-16359183/
Info on cord blood donation:
//www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/cord-blood-bank/
You can sign up as a donor (not cord blood) by a postal registration through DKMS - it is just a cheek swab, easier than an LFT.
//www.dkms.org.uk/get-involved/virtual-drives/yvette
Or here
www.anthonynolan.org/help-save-a-life/patient-appeals/current-appeals/swabforyvette
Please share this campaign in your networks. If you have experience of donating cord blood, of bone marrow donation, or of blood cancer, I'd love to hear it.
If MNHQ are interested in supporting our campaign please contact me.
ACLT (African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust) have also been campaigning on this for many years.
www.anthonynolan.org/aclt-and-anthony-nolan
Please sign up: if you aren't a match for Yvette, you could be for someone else.
kinshasa · 05/04/2022 16:42
Thank-you for this. I am hopeful for your friend. How good to have a friend like you.
I'm not in London but will do my best and will share❤
Lndnmummy · 05/04/2022 16:53
I am so sorry to hear about your friend. I kust wanted to share that I donated my cord 3 years ago (I'm white but my children are black/mixed race). I had not been approached during pregnancy about it but there was a representative at the hospital when I went in for triage. She came in when I was waiting for my c-section (planned but I went into labour early). She told me about the acute situation for non white people and I agreed in a heart beat. It was all very straight forward. The lady and a collauge were present at the c-section. Husband cut cord as normal and it must have then been handed over. She came to see me on the ward afterwards (having checked with the midwife that i was up to this) and she confirmed the weight/amount of blood from the cord and how it would be used. I'm a little rusty on the details but basically if the blood amount is under a certain volume it can't be donated but used for research instead. Mine was confirmed to be over the threshhold.
Sorry for going on but just wanted to give the "user experience" as it were. It was great. At no point did it interfere with my birth or medical care, I hardly noticed them. If anything it was a really humbling experience. It was almost like a second celebration. I learned so much about donor shortages and my black family are now all blood donors as well.
Orchidflower1 · 06/04/2022 06:45
I looked at joining Antony Nowlan register but sadly I think you have to be under 35.
Here is a bump for you op and sending prayers and good wishes for your friend that she finds a match.
madamceladon · 06/04/2022 06:59
@Lndnmummy thanks for sharing its great to hear these different experiences and the reality.
It's such an under recognised issue- I didn't know about this- I think the challenge in campaigning is that it's quite
Complex to communicate as well as people's anxiety about the level of invasiveness if you donate
nether · 06/04/2022 07:06
There are higher limits for some registers
NHS - for existing blood donors - up to 40
www.bbmr.co.uk/joining-the-register/
DKMS - up to 55
www.dkms.org.uk/register-now
pumpkinmash · 06/04/2022 07:53
I'm as white as they come, but I'm friends with a friend of Yvette and what you gaits are doing is so important. For Yvette yes but for hundreds and thousands of people who have been or will be in her situation.
Raising awareness is step one, and now we need more doners.
Please, if you fit the criteria, please consider coming forward.
pumpkinmash · 06/04/2022 07:54
Also, proof read your posts before submitting them - you guys not you gaits...
TheBlackDarner · 06/04/2022 10:12
@pumpkinmash 
gait is ok with me, I have a wonky walk.
Sadly, I'm past my sell by date for donations these days. But adult dc and friends have been "actively encouraged".
Some years ago now, I was very unwell. Thanks to nine donations of blood from people whom I'll never meet, I got through it all.
If you can support please do, if you can't directly support, please pass these links on to family and friends.
I think often of my blood donors, blessings to them.x
Orchidflower1 · 06/04/2022 12:23
Thank you @nether I don’t fit the nhs one for age.
I can’t give blood due to health conditions/ medications but I thought I maybe able to do this with the other link you sent as I’m under 55 but I don’t fit the health criteria.
Thank you for taking the time to give more links.
TottersBlankly · 06/04/2022 15:39
I’m too old to donate but hope other, younger people will.
I wish your friend well.
madamceladon · 07/04/2022 16:49
@TheBlackDarner how lovely to hear how you feel towards your blood donors, I will get back to blood donation myself.
@pumpkinmash crazy to hear you also have a connection- yvette is so well known
TheBlackDarner · 07/04/2022 18:13
@madamceladon Donors, of any kind, are incredible people. One of the most amazing things we can do isn't it? Keeping you and Yvette in my heart, I so hope that someone comes forward for her. 
LoseLooseLucy · 10/04/2022 18:40
My mum's life was saved by a 50 year old donor (my mum was 50 too, she had acute myeloid leukaemia).
Really hope your friend finds a match 🙏
madamceladon · 11/04/2022 13:04
@LoseLooseLucy so lovely to hear about your mum.
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