November 23rd 2024.
Sonia was scrolling through her inbox when she stumbled upon an email from the NHS Blood and Transplant team. She paused and opened it, curious about what it could be about. As she read through the email, she was reminded of her past blood donation and how she had also signed up to be a potential bone marrow or blood stem cell donor. She held her breath in anticipation as the email stated that they had found her to be a potential match for a patient.
Excitement and disbelief flooded through Sonia as she read those words. Seventeen years ago, she had registered to become a donor, always hoping that one day she could help someone in need. Becoming a stem cell donor wasn't something she had dreamt of as a kid, but she had always been open to the idea. In her early 20s, she had gone to donate blood and was given a form to fill in. On it, there was a box to tick if she would consider becoming a donor. Without hesitation, she ticked the box and was officially added to the British bone marrow registry.
After that, life went on as normal and Sonia didn't think much about it. However, in July 2020, after giving birth to her son Damian, she was reminded of the importance of helping others. She had a traumatic experience during childbirth, which made her realize just how lucky she and her son were to be alive. She wanted to do something to give back, and then she heard about Ashley Cain's daughter, Azaylia.
Azaylia was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia at just eight weeks old, and Sonia followed her parents' social media accounts for updates on her condition. She learned that Azaylia needed a stem cell transplant due to the aggressive nature of her cancer. Sonia, being half Greek and half British, knew she wouldn't be a match for Azaylia, but she figured she could potentially help someone else in need. She signed up to be a stem cell donor for a second time, this time through DKMS.
Sonia waited to hear if she was a match, and in July of this year, she received the news that she was indeed the perfect match for a patient. She was overjoyed and immediately agreed to go ahead with the donation. After getting the necessary GP sign off, she was booked to go to London for the procedure a few weeks later. Despite the initial nerves, the whole experience felt more like a mini break than a medical procedure. She stayed in a hotel and only had to go to the hospital twice.
The donation process was similar to giving blood, with the only discomfort being the initial scratch of the needle. Sonia felt a sense of pride and happiness as she left the hospital, knowing that she had done something truly selfless. She had put some good into the world and helped a perfect stranger. Now, she is waiting to hear how the donation went for the recipient and hopes to have the opportunity to meet them someday.
Sonia encourages everyone in her life to sign up to be a donor, especially those from Black and Asian heritage who are underrepresented on the register. The NHS needs one person to register every 20 minutes to meet the increasing demand for donors. Sonia also advises registering only once to avoid duplicating the work and emphasizes that it doesn't matter who you sign up with, as long as you do it. She believes that aside from giving birth to her son, signing up to be a donor is the best thing she has ever done, and she wishes she had done it sooner.
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