My Story
It was a devastating blow to learn of my sisters leukemia and like most people, I thought the worst as i have watched other family members cruelly had their life taken by cancer. She told me that she needed a stem cell transplant and I volunteered straight away as siblings have a good chance of a match. I marched on down to the docs and got bloods taken and awaited the results. Damn and bugger it! They weren't a match. I live 60 odd miles from her but was up to the hospital regularly when things were bad. Seeing her a shadow of her former self really brings it home to you. I just wanted to pick her up and cuddle her and tell her it would be ok. I couldn't lie though as I knew the outcome could be very different. I had faith that the docs would come through for her though and knew she was in the best place. Great news! She got a match from someone across the pond. I felt sad that I, as one of her brothers, couldn't help her with this aspect but will forever be grateful for the donor coming forward. It's been long and painful to see her slow recovery and there's a lot more healing to come but we have hope now that she is recovering and we can have many more years enjoying our family that without research just wouldn't have been possible.
