Cheshire woman searches for lifesaving blood stem cell donor

A search is taking place to find someone with a matching tissue-type who can donate blood stem cells to save the life of a woman from Cheshire. Forty-five year old Nicola Byrnes from Warrington was diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukaemia a few weeks ago.

She needs a blood stem cell donation to treat it and a matching donor is being sought for her. She is joining with the charity Delete Blood Cancer UK to urge people to come forward and register as a potential donor to see if they are a match for her or someone else in need of a blood stem cell donation.

Nicola Byrnes is married to Patrick, and has two step-sons, Callum and Jonah. She works as a business analyst at Vodafone. Nicola is very sporty and loves nothing more than mountain-biking in North Wales. She married Patrick in the Caribbean last year, her favourite holiday destination.

For many people with a blood cancer or blood disorder, a donation of blood stem cells from another person that enables their body to develop a healthy immune system is their best chance of staying alive.

The lives of people of all ages, from newborn babies to older patients, are being saved every day as a result of this procedure. However, many are still dying because nobody with a compatible tissue type can be found.

It doesn’t mean that there is nobody with a tissue type that is compatible to the patient who could save their life. There could be someone with a tissue type that matches the patient’s who could save their life, but tragically, they are not registered as potential blood stem donor. That is why Delete Blood Cancer UK works to recruit as many people as possible join the registry.

Speaking about the search to find a donor for him, Nicola said: “Becoming a blood stem cell donor gives all of us who require a donation a second chance at life - and what could be better than saving someone’s life. Helping to save a life must be the best feeling in the world, so please consider joining the register. It takes such a short time to do, but can have a huge impact on another person’s life.”

While Aga Chrosciel from Delete Blood Cancer UK, added:

Registering as a potential blood stem cell donor is so easy. It takes minutes but could lead to you saving someone’s life. Please take the time to register to help find a matching donor for Nicola and all those in need of a lifesaving blood stem cell donation.”

You can register in five minutes online and request a cheek swab kit that will enable you to do your own tissue test to become a potential blood stem cell donor through the Delete Blood Cancer UK website: www.deletebloodcancer.org.uk