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ITV News
5 days ago
- General
- ITV News
Crawley girl, 10, battling rare blood disorder encourages others to join stem cell register
ITV Meridian's Rachel Hepworth has been speaking to Amilah and her family in Crawley. A young girl from Sussex who's battling a rare blood disorder, is urging more people to join the stem cell register, to help save lives like hers. Amilah Hussain from Crawley who's 10 was diagnosed with aplastic anaemia last year. The life-threatening blood disorder meant she had to stop activities she loved like skating and climbing, where bruising might lead to life-threatening infection. Speaking to ITV Meridian, Amilah said: 'Most of the time when I'm sick I get very tired. "When I get a temperature over 38 I have to go to hospital ands I hate that because I know I'll have to stay there for the night.' Mobeen Hussein, Amilah's mother Mobeen Hussein, Amilah's mother said: "She's got this spark, this energy, she's always happy- whatever is thrown at her, she just gets on with it. 'I just wouldn't wish it on anyone. "It was horrible knowing that at any stage of her life she would become helpless- that we wouldn't be able to help her.' The family turned to the blood cancer charity, DKMS to help. The search was harder because of Amilah's Pakistani heritage, as ethnic minorities are severely under-represented on the register, particularly in the south. But luckily a match was found against the odds. Amilah now knows that if and when she needs a transplant, a match is there for her. ITV Meridian's Matt Teale speaks to Bronagh Hughes from the blood cancer charity DKMS UK Aplastic anaemia is a serious condition affecting the blood, where the bone marrow and stem cells do not produce enough blood cells. It can happen suddenly or develop over a period of time. According to the aplastic anaemia trust, a stem cell transplant is the only form of treatment which, when successful, can cure aplastic anaemia. It involves infusing healthy stem cells from a donor into your bloodstream. But new figures show that fewer than 3% of people in the south are registered as donors, which is lower than the national average. Bronagh Hughes from the stem cell charity DKMS said: "A stem cell transplant is the best opportunity for some patients to have a second chance at life. "Stem cells exist in your blood and in your bone marrow, and if those stop working, then you need a stem cell transplant. "So for about one in three patients, that will come from a member of their family, so for two thirds of patients, they won't have that match in their family - and that's where we come in. "We help people to join the stem cell register so that if in the future someone needs a transplant and you're a match that we can find you, that we can put you in touch and then you can come forward, donate your stem cells and give that person another chance at life. "In the UK, at any given time, there are around 2,000 people who are waiting for that match and who haven't found it. "Everyone between the age of 17 and 55 that is in general good health is eligible to join the register, but most of them just don't know that it's something that's available to them. "It's really easy to join the stem cell donor register - It's a quick cheek swab and you can do it online. We'll send you a swab kit in the post, you just do a quick swab on each cheek and post it back to us and then you're on the register. "if you do get that call, 90% of the time, you're asked to donate through a process called PBSC. It's very similar to donating blood, but it takes a little bit longer. "It's a really easy outpatient procedure - about 10% of people will be asked to donate bone marrow, which will involve a small surgery."
Scotsman
28-05-2025
- Health
- Scotsman
Scotland is below the UK average in lifesaving stem cell donor registrations
New data released by blood cancer charity DKMS reveals that just 2.1% of 16-65's in Scotland are registered as potential stem cell donors with DKMS – below the UK average of 2.4%. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... As the UK marks World Blood Cancer Day on 28 May, DKMS is calling on people across Scotland to take action, and help to give people with blood cancer a second chance at life by joining the stem cell donor register. Every 14 minutes, someone in the UK is diagnosed with blood cancer. For many patients, a stem cell transplant from a matching donor is their best or only chance of survival – but only a very small proportion of the UK population are currently registered as potential donors. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad DKMS spokesperson Deborah Hyde says, 'When a patient needs a stem cell transplant, only one in three will find a donor in their immediate family. This means that two thirds of patients will need to find a stranger who is a compatible stem cell match, and who can offer them a second chance at life. Joining the register means that you could offer that lifeline for someone in their time of greatest need. Most people will never be called to donate, but if you are, you have the potential to save someone's life'. Rachael is also a qualified nurse One such patient is Rachael Nixon, a 39 year old nurse and single mum from Fife, Scotland. Last year, she began to experience loss of appetite, vomiting, weight loss, extreme fatigue, and dizziness. She initially put it down to juggling life as a new mum, but after visiting her doctor, she was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of blood cancer known as myelofibrosis. Rachael is a mum to a one year old named Daisy, and she says, "My greatest fear when I was first diagnosed was that I wouldn't be around to raise my daughter. It kept me awake at night, she's so young, if I died, would she even remember me?'. Unfortunately, no one in Rachael's family was a match, and so a global search began to find a stranger who could give her another chance at life. People across the UK who heard her story began signing up to the stem cell donor register through DKMS. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Rachael says, 'Since being diagnosed I've been so overwhelmed with the amount of people whose first response is, 'Can I be tested for you?', which is just the kindest gesture. I feel so thankful that I have so many people out there who want to do what they can to help save my life.' Rachael Nixon - who is having her stem cell transplant on World Blood Cancer Day - with daughter Daisy Then, earlier this year, Rachael received lifechanging news. Not one, but two people had been identified as her stem cell donor match. These complete strangers, both based in America, have said that they would be happy to donate their cells. Now, in an extraordinary turn of events, Rachael has been scheduled for her potentially life-saving transplant on World Blood Cancer Day itself – 28 May. Rachael continues, 'It took a few days for the news to sink in, but when I found out I had a match – in fact two matches – it felt like a miracle. Because those people joined the register, I'm getting another chance at a life with my daughter, and on World Blood Cancer Day! I would encourage everyone to join the register, it's so easy, but for people like me, it can change everything'. Rachael is marking World Blood Cancer Day with DKMS by encouraging everyone aged 17–55 and in good general health to order a free swab kit via their website ( complete a simple cheek swab, and return it to be added to the register. Things you didn't know about blood cancer: Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Blood cancers are the third most common cause of cancer death in the UK. Every year, nearly 13,000 people die from blood cancer in the UK. At any one time there are around 2,000 people in the UK in need of a stem cell transplant. Of those registered, only 16 % are from UK minority ethnic backgrounds. This makes it more difficult for patients from these backgrounds to find a match. Signing up to the stem cell donor register is a quick and easy process involving some painless mouth swabs: if you are aged 17-55 and in general good health, you're eligible to join the register with DKMS. If you are then matched with someone needing a transplant, in nine out of ten cases donating is a simple, outpatient process similar to donating blood platelets.
Scotsman
28-05-2025
- Health
- Scotsman
Scotland below the UK average in lifesaving stem cell donor registrations
New data released by blood cancer charity DKMS reveals that just 2.1% of 16-65's in Scotland are registered as potential stem cell donors with DKMS – below the UK average of 2.4%. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... As the UK marks World Blood Cancer Day on 28 May, DKMS is calling on people across Scotland to take action, and help to give people with blood cancer a second chance at life by joining the stem cell donor register. Every 14 minutes, someone in the UK is diagnosed with blood cancer. For many patients, a stem cell transplant from a matching donor is their best or only chance of survival – but only a very small proportion of the UK population are currently registered as potential donors. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad DKMS spokesperson Deborah Hyde says, 'When a patient needs a stem cell transplant, only one in three will find a donor in their immediate family. This means that two thirds of patients will need to find a stranger who is a compatible stem cell match, and who can offer them a second chance at life. Joining the register means that you could offer that lifeline for someone in their time of greatest need. Most people will never be called to donate, but if you are, you have the potential to save someone's life'. Rachael is also a qualified nurse One such patient is Rachael Nixon, a 39 year old nurse and single mum from Fife, Scotland. Last year, she began to experience loss of appetite, vomiting, weight loss, extreme fatigue, and dizziness. She initially put it down to juggling life as a new mum, but after visiting her doctor, she was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of blood cancer known as myelofibrosis. Rachael is a mum to a one year old named Daisy, and she says, "My greatest fear when I was first diagnosed was that I wouldn't be around to raise my daughter. It kept me awake at night, she's so young, if I died, would she even remember me?'. Unfortunately, no one in Rachael's family was a match, and so a global search began to find a stranger who could give her another chance at life. People across the UK who heard her story began signing up to the stem cell donor register through DKMS. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Rachael says, 'Since being diagnosed I've been so overwhelmed with the amount of people whose first response is, 'Can I be tested for you?', which is just the kindest gesture. I feel so thankful that I have so many people out there who want to do what they can to help save my life.' Rachael Nixon - who is having her stem cell transplant on World Blood Cancer Day - and daughter Daisy Then, earlier this year, Rachael received lifechanging news. Not one, but two people had been identified as her stem cell donor match. These complete strangers, both based in America, have said that they would be happy to donate their cells. Now, in an extraordinary turn of events, Rachael has been scheduled for her potentially life-saving transplant on World Blood Cancer Day itself – 28 May. Rachael continues, 'It took a few days for the news to sink in, but when I found out I had a match – in fact two matches – it felt like a miracle. Because those people joined the register, I'm getting another chance at a life with my daughter, and on World Blood Cancer Day! I would encourage everyone to join the register, it's so easy, but for people like me, it can change everything'. Rachael is marking World Blood Cancer Day with DKMS by encouraging everyone aged 17–55 and in good general health to order a free swab kit via their website ( complete a simple cheek swab, and return it to be added to the register. Things you didn't know about blood cancer: Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Blood cancers are the third most common cause of cancer death in the UK. Every year, nearly 13,000 people die from blood cancer in the UK. At any one time there are around 2,000 people in the UK in need of a stem cell transplant. Of those registered, only 16 % are from UK minority ethnic backgrounds. This makes it more difficult for patients from these backgrounds to find a match. Signing up to the stem cell donor register is a quick and easy process involving some painless mouth swabs: if you are aged 17-55 and in general good health, you're eligible to join the register with DKMS. If you are then matched with someone needing a transplant, in nine out of ten cases donating is a simple, outpatient process similar to donating blood platelets.
BBC News
28-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Donor found for Crawley girl with rare blood disorder
A stem cell donor has been found for a 10-year-old girl with a rare and potentially fatal blood disorder after a campaign to find a from Crawley in West Sussex, was diagnosed with aplastic anaemia in October after unexplained bruising on her a long wait, her family has now received the news that someone from the register of charity DKMS has been identified as a match after a campaign for more people to come mother, Mobeen, said: "You hear so much negative news every day, but seeing people respond as they have really restores your faith in humanity." She added: "If that person hadn't done a quick cheek swab and joined the donor register, we might still be waiting, and our daughter's future might still be hanging in the balance."Doctors said Amilah did not need the transplant yet, but could need one anaemia occurs when the bone marrow cannot make enough new blood cells for the body to work normally, making it harder to fight infection, stop bleeding or carry oxygen.A transplant introduces healthy stem cells into the bloodstream to help produce new blood cells. As Amilah - whose name means hope in Arabic - has Pakistani heritage, she is more likely to have a unique tissue meant she was less likely to find a donor on UK registers compared to patients from white, northern European doctors told Mobeen a stem cell transplant was the only hope for a cure for her daughter's condition, she called for more people from ethnic minorities to sign up to become cancer and disorder charity DKMS said just 2.4% of the UK population was on its donor register - with 16% being from ethnic minority part of World Blood Cancer Day on Wednesday, Amilah and her mother are urging everyone aged between 17–55 and in good general health to order a free swab kit on the DKMS website to be added to the register.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
How Dominic LeBlanc's life was saved by a 20-year-old German college student
As the minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, intergovernmental affairs and Prime Minister Mark Carney's 'One Canadian Economy' portfolio, Dominic LeBlanc will face many obstacles in the days and weeks ahead. But the veteran Liberal minister is no stranger to a challenge, having overcome a rare form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma more than five years ago thanks to a stem cell donation from Germany. LeBlanc reflected on his battle over the weekend, sharing a memory of visiting with his donor, Jonathan Kehl, on social media. 'Two years ago, Jonathan, the brave young man who saved my life, welcomed Jolene (Richard) and me to his family's home town in Germany, Bad Hersefeld,' he posted along with two photos of himself and his wife with the now 26-year-old and his family members. 'I will cherish this moment and remember his kindness, and that of his family, forever.' LeBlanc 'was as yellow as a lemon … and had lost a lot of weight' In April 2019, while overseeing intergovernmental affairs, northern affairs and internal trade under then-prime minister Justin Trudeau, a 51-year-old LeBlanc, feeling particularly unwell, was informed by Moncton doctors he had a 'lethal form' of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. His only chance at survival: 'very aggressive' chemotherapies and a stem cell donation via an allogeneic transplant — obtaining healthy stem cells from a donor who is not identical to the recipient. In an interview with DKMS, the German-based international blood science organization that ultimately paired him with Kehl, LeBlanc said it took doctors a few weeks to figure out the 'right recipe of chemotherapy' to get his cancer into remission before referring him to Montreal's Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, a facility renowned for its expertise in hematology and stem cell transplants. 'He was as yellow as a lemon because of the liver failure and had lost a lot of weight,' Dr. Sylvie Lachance, who oversaw his care, told Reader's Digest Canada in 2023. But LeBlanc, who'd announced he'd won a battle with leukemia the year prior, was optimistic and said doctors were, too, reminding him that even if his younger sister, Genevieve, was not a match, the DKMS's global registry of potential bone marrow donors offered added hope. His sister's blood ended up being incompatible, but a perfect match showed up through the database several weeks later, and the anonymous donor agreed to the procedure. International rules prohibit doctors from divulging the identity of the donor to the recipient for two years, but LeBlanc wondered if his potential saviour might be based in Germany, 'just because they had said that so many Germans are in the database, and the German people are so generous when they're asked to donate.' On the other side of the Atlantic, a 20-year-old Kehl, who'd registered as a donor while still in high school two years earlier, was living with his parents in the Hesse state town of Bad Hersfeld when he was told he was a perfect match with a Canadian man. 'I could have said no, but I agreed,' Kehl told Reader's Digest. 'I wanted to save a life! It was a really emotional moment for me, and for my family, who encouraged me to donate.' In early September, he travelled to Frankfurt to have his stem cells collected, after which they were flown to Montreal, where LeBlanc awaited, having just finished a final round of chemotherapy to prepare his body for the transplant. 'So you're obviously not feeling a great deal of energy. All my hair had fallen out. I probably lost 35 pounds,' he said to DKMS. 'But the doctors were very positive. They said I was ready to receive the transplant. And I'll never forget when the nurse comes in to the hospital room and shows you the bag of stem cells, it was maybe half a litre in a bag that had a whole series of stickers of different barcodes on it.' The procedure itself took just two hours to introduce the 570,000,000 stem cells into his bloodstream, followed by a waiting period to see if new blood cells regenerated. 'I was afraid it hadn't worked until Dr. Lachance came into my room with a smile and told me the neutrophils — the white blood cells — had materialized,' LeBlanc said to Reader's Digest. After several weeks of isolation to protect and rebuild a severely weakened immune system, during which he was elected for the seventh straight time as the member of parliament for Beauséjour in the federal election, LeBlanc was discharged in November. He returned to Parliament in January. Blood brothers: 'This young man saved my life' LeBlanc said he first filled out the form to learn his donor's identity about a year after the transplant, and he got an email with Kehl's name and date of birth in October 2021. 'What struck me on the information I got is that he was born in 1999,' LeBlanc said to DKMS. 'I didn't imagine that the donor would have just been 20 years old when he donated the stem cells.' His team quickly obtained Kehl's contact information so LeBlanc could send him a personal message of thanks. He even contacted Stéphane Dion, the Canadian ambassador to Germany, to find out which translation agency they use for official correspondence. Kehl responded in English, which he told Leblanc he'd been studying since childhood. From Trudeau's babysitter to loyal soldier, what we know about the new finance minister, Dominic LeBlanc Liberal MPs urge LeBlanc to reconsider and run for leader COVID-19's Omicron wave delayed an in-person meeting, but the pair chatted on Zoom just before Christmas and agreed to get together when travel rules allowed. That meeting happened the following September when Kehl visited Canada as LeBlanc's special guest. 'This young man saved my life,' LeBlanc said, introducing Kehl in Ottawa, where the young German also met Trudeau and conducted media interviews before the pair went to Montreal and then to New Brunswick for two days of salmon fishing. Kehl returned the favour in May 2023, inviting LeBlanc and Richard to Bad Hersfeld to meet his family. 'He and I have a special bond,' LeBlanc wrote on Twitter at the time. 'Indeed, we have the exact same blood and immune system. Because three and a half years ago, he answered the call to donate some of his stem cells to a man whom he knew was very sick, but whose identity was not known to him at the time.' For his part, Kehl told Reader's Digest that should LeBlanc require more stem cells, he's ready to donate again. 'I consider Mr. LeBlanc to be my genetic twin,' he said. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here.
