More than 3600 patients have received potentially lifesaving bone marrow and stem cell transplants during the last 30 years, thanks to the kindness of strangers. NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is applauding their generous donors on the double anniversary celebration for the British Bone Marrow Registry (BBMR) and the NHS Cord Blood Bank, both of which play an integral part in saving lives.
The 30th anniversary for the BBMR and 20th anniversary for the NHS Cord Blood Bank were commemorated on World Marrow Donor Day on 17 September, an awareness day for blood stem cell, marrow and cord blood registries. The BBMR and NHS Cord Blood Bank work in partnership with Anthony Nolan, the Welsh Bone Marrow Donor Registry and Delete Blood Cancer UK as part of the Anthony Nolan and NHS Stem Cell Registry. The BBMR lists more than 344,000 blood donors who have also agreed to be potential bone marrow and stem cell donors, as well as over 14,000 cord blood units.
Each year, around 2000 people in the UK need a lifesaving stem cell transplant. Last year the registry helped to find a match for more than 200 people. However, many patients are not able to receive this potentially lifesaving treatment because of the shortage of a suitable donor.
Seventeen-year-old Carl Hillis is grateful to BBMR which found a lifesaving bone marrow transplant for him eight years ago. In 2002, aged three, Carl was diagnosed with T-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and endured more than two years of chemotherapy treatment before going into remission. However, the disease returned in 2008 when Carl was nine.
The youngster received more-intensive treatment, followed by a bone marrow transplant to give him the best chance of survival.
Carl said: “I don’t remember much about my illness when I was three, but I remember more when I was nine, always being in and out of hospital for treatment and check-ups. All my family members were tested but no-one was a close enough match. My donor, Tony, was a 10 out of 10 perfect match and was the same blood group.”
In 2013, Carl’s family anonymously wrote to thank his donor, Tony Blood, for his selfless act. Several letters later they agreed to meet, and now Tony is part of the family.