*lenaschildminding...Appeal for help...*

[lenaschildminding]

Those who know me or those who have read any of the other threads I am on will know I lost my son to cancer nearly four years ago. During his time in Leicester Royal Infirmary, he made many friends. The vast majority of these friends have leukaemia. 26 of these children have since died. Three of his closest friends, have all finished treatment and are in remission, doing very well indeed. They are all 9 now, as he would have been. Very sadly, one of his friends, Bethany, also the same age, has not been so fortunate. Although she has done very well for the last 4 years, tragically, she has now relapsed. Her leukaemia has returned and her only hope is a Bone Marrow Donor. We intend to set up a donor clinic with the Anthony Nolan Trust to find Bethany a match as quickly as possible. The possible venue will be in Coalville, off J22, M1. We are appealing to everyone we know to spread the word, in hope that people will come along to see if they are a match for Bethany. It would only take a short moment of their life to help save hers. REQUIREMENTS:· age 18 - 40 · in general good health · weight over 51kg / 8st, women must not be pregnant, women with children under the age of 12 months cannot join the register or donate during that time. 70% of patients rely on the help of an unrelated bone marrow donor. WHAT'S INVOLVED: Coming along to the donor clinic, date and location to be confirmed, and having a blood test. If you appear to be a potential match, you will be asked to submit several more blood samples, If these blood tests show you to be a complete match ? congratulations! ? You are offering immeasurable hope to Bethany.Prior to the donation, you will have a medical examination by an independent physician to confirm your fitness to proceed. Further blood samples will be taken to assess your health and ensure that no infection could be passed from you to Bethany.For more information on what happens in a transplant take a look at www.anthonynolan.com The experience of donating bone marrow is simple and straightforward and donors have the opportunity to ask questions at any time. The Anthony Nolan Trust make all the arrangements for the donor and cover any financial loss incurred by donors as a result of having donated blood stem cells (subject to prior agreement). A family member or friend is also able to accompany you to London. One of the trusts donor welfare officers will be on hand as well. Following the donation, you may receive updates on Bethany's progress. Of course we hope that through running this clinic we will find a suitable match for Bethany. However the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Register does not test for one patient. Potential donors must be willing to help ANY patient that they match whilst on the register. This applies if they join through a patient linked donor appeal such as the clinic we will be running. There are many childern and adults worldwide who desperately need a donor to come forward to help them. There will be information available and trained staff at the clinic to discuss and answer any questions you may have regarding this.IF YOU OR ANYONE YOU KNOW WOULD LIKE TO HELP BETHANY BEAT LEUKAEMIA PLEASE E-MAIL ME FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE DONOR CLINIC. THANK YOU. PLEASE FORWARD THIS TO YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY. [email protected]
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I wish you luck. Just wanted to keep this bumped for you.

bump for you

I have always wondered about how I could help others, but never came accross this sort of information before, I will have a look on the website, and see if maybe there are clinics doing this in my area too,
I hope they find a match for Bethany, and I hope your post encourages others to find out more

Thanks to UCM, POPTOT and VIX1, much appreciate your comments and 'bumps'.

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PLEASE READ THIS THREAD

BUMP

Bethany's desperate bid

A nine-year-old girl is desperate to find a bone marrow donor as she battles against leukaemia.

Bethany Mickleburgh was diagnosed with the illness when she was three, but after two years of chemotherapy treatment her family thought she had recovered.

She was in remission for three years - but the disease returned. Now, doctors say her best chance of a cure is a transplant.

Bethany's parents, Veronica and Jonathan, of Western Park, are urging people to come forward and be tested to see if they are a match for their daughter or any of the other 7,000 people in the UK who need similar transplants.

Veronica, 44, said: 'It would be fantastic to find a match, but there could be potentially be a match for many others.?

'We've spent the last four months on the oncology ward at Leicester Royal Infirmary and seen a number of children who are in desperate need of bone marrow transplants.

'To save somebody's life must be one of the most wonderful things you can do.'

Bethany's parents and sister Jemma, 12, have all been tested but were not matches.

Bethany has been receiving more intensive chemotherapy since she relapsed in February and has been allowed to come home from hospital while a worldwide search continues to find a match.

Her parents describe her as a 'typical nine-year-old', who loves school and enjoys seeing her friends. Classmates have been sending her letters every week she has been in hospital. Jonathan, 45, said: 'At this moment she's bright as a button.

'She has had all these months of intensive chemotherapy with all the nausea, hair loss and pain that goes with it, but she's coped very well and she's able to be at home and play with her sister and go for a walk around the block .

?Bethany is a happy kid, but she can't keep relapsing.?

Nigel Gorvett, from the Anthony Nolan Trust said: 'This story is a stark reminder that leukaemia can affect any person of any age, and we are hoping that the people of Leicester and surrounding areas, if eligible, will think seriously about becoming donors.'

The clinic will take place at NEWBRIDGE SCHOOL,
FOREST ROAD
COALVILLE
LEICESTERSHIRE

ON MONDAY 7TH AUGUST 2006 5PM ? 8PM

Anybody who is aged between 18 and 40, who is in good health, weighs more than 8st (51 kg), but is not severely overweight, and is willing to donate stem cells to any patient, is asked to attend .

At the donor clinic, you will be asked to have a simple blood test.

For more information, you can contact The Anthony Nolan Trust by e-mail, by calling the 24-hour hotline, 0901 8822234, or via the website www.anthonynolan.org.uk

Bump...Bump....Bump....PLEASE READ THIS LIFESAVING APPEAL.....

good luck with this

fingers crossed.......

Thanks to those that have read this thread.

Bethany continues to do well despite a match still not being found.

The donor clinics have done quite well in signing up new members of the donor register.

For more information on joining, please check out the Anthony Nolan website. www.anthonynolan.org.uk

You can also contact The Anthony Nolan Trust by e-mail, by calling the 24-hour hotline, 0901 8822234.

Many thanks.

The search for a Bone Marrow Match for Bethany continues and she is currently doing as well as can be expected on Chemo.

Please, please, please join the Anthony Nolan Register, its free, its painless and YOU could save a life...

Could you email me a copy of an email that i can send to my friends, outlining that there are lots more people searching for a donor?

Ta Kelly (email: [email protected] )

bump

Unfortunately my baby is only 6 months, so I cannot register, but I will bump it up for you and have passed this on to everyone I know!

Please please please....

Everyone who can, please join the bone marrow donor register.

Another one of my friends daughters has relapsed after 7 years in remission with Leukaemia.

Her name is Francesca, she was originally diagnosed the same time as Bethany and my son Jack, who lost his battle against Neuroblastoma. They were all just 3 years old. Frans now approaching her 10th Birthday and she will be spending it in hospital on intensive Chemo.

Bethany is still on Chemo, as a match still hasn't been found for her.

Please contact the Anthony Nolan Trust and join the register. You could save a life.

Francesca is doing reasonably well on chemo at the moment.

Please click on this link if you can join the Banoe Marrow Donor register...

how to join the Bone Marrow Donor Register

Thanks.