A dad from North Derbyshire has donated stem cells to a stranger so they can have a potentially lifesaving transplant.
Jonathan Fox, who’s 30 from Shirebrook, joined the register a few months ago, and received a call recently to say that he had been matched to a seriously ill patient. He travelled to Sheffield to complete the procedure, and then found out that his cells had been transported to Germany, where a man was waiting for his transplant. This was particularly emotional, as his partner’s uncle had previously passed away while waiting to find a stem cell donor match.
“I didn’t know a huge amount about stem cell donation, but I’ve always donated blood, because if me or one of my family were unwell, I’d want someone to do the same for me. I felt the same about donating stem cells,” he says. “I sent off for a swab kit in the post, and the whole thing was very easy.”
Then, a few months later, he received a call out of the blue from DKMS to say that a patient was undergoing treatment, and he was their stem cell match. For patients with blood cancer or other blood disorders, a stem cell transplant from a matching donor could be their only opportunity for a second chance, but just 7% of the eligible population in the UK are signed up to the register. Jonathan was a match for a very ill patient, who was in desperate need on a stem cell transplant to give them a second chance at life.
His family was very supportive. Jonathan says, “My mum is a midwife, and my dad is a consultant, though in a different area. They were really interested in the medical side, even they didn’t realise how easy the donation was, and that I didn’t need to have surgery.”
When he found out he was a match, his partner Ruby’s mum also spoke to him about her brother, who had sadly died while waiting for a stem cell transplant. “I think it was quite emotional for my partner’s family. They were so glad I was able to help someone in the same situation that they had been through,” says Jonathan. “You can’t change the past, but it is great to be able to pass on the baton, and help someone else.”
Within a few weeks, Jonathan had completed initial medical assessments and was on his way to Sheffield to donate. He donated stem cells through a simple, outpatient procedure similar to donating blood platelets.
“I had to do a few days of self-injections to boost my stem cells beforehand, which was the worst bit, and then the actual donation only took one day. The DKMS team and the nurses were amazing, and so helpful. I had lots of geeky questions about the process, and at one point during the donation, the nurse went and got me the manual for the machine! I took some photos of it for my daughter. It’s hard to talk to a child about things like cancer, but she’s so curious, and I’m glad I can let her know how easy it can be to help people, and that things like this exist.”
Shortly after the donation, Jonathan was able to find out a little bit more information about the patient. He now knows that the person who received his cells is a man of a similar age to him, in Germany.
He says, “I would have been glad to help whoever it was, it didn’t make a difference to me, but I have thought about that man and his family since. I’m just happy that I could play my part in extending someone’s life. It was a couple of days of my time and a few injections, which could lead to him having another 20, 30 or 40 years to be with his family, or just to experience life. If it all goes well, and he wants to get in touch in future, I’d be happy to speak to him.”
DKMS spokesperson Bronagh Hughes says, “Jonathan has done something truly amazing. Right now, only 60% of patients find a match on the register. Patients all over the world are waiting for their match, so signing up means that, like Jonathan, you could be the person to give someone a second chance, and potentially even save a life. Joining the stem cell register is really easy, it just involves a few cheek swabs and a few health questions.”
Now, Jonathan is teaming up with DKMS to encourage more people to join the stem cell donor registry. He says, “It’s natural to be unsure, I was a bit nervous myself initially, but there’s nothing to be scared of. The whole procedure is easy and well regulated, and there’s so much support available.”
“Most of my colleagues, family and friends don’t know what stem cell donation is, so I’m really happy to be able to share my story. Even if one person visits the DKMS website and signs up, I’ll be delighted.”
