A MILLION-TO-ONE chance has seen a father donate stem cells which have helped to save a child’s life.

Stephen Gibbons, 36, has spent this week in hospital donating about 85 million blood stem cells.

Although he is not allowed to knowanything about the person who will get his cells, dad-of-two Stephen has been told it is a very young child.

The recovery driver, who lives in Marks Tey, said: “Knowing it was a child was more than enough incentive.

“It just made it more important.

“I like to think of myself as one of those people who will help people as much as I can.”

Stephen was unable to donate blood, as he had carbon monoxide poisoning in the past.

Still keen to do something to help, he and his wife Michelle joined the stem cell register about six months ago.

Stephen got a call three months ago saying he was a potential match.

He went for a number of tests, which showed he was a 100 per cent match.

Michelle said: “The odds of that are one in a million, which is just amazing.”

Before making his donation, Stephen had injections for four days to increase his stem cell production. On Tuesday, he went to a hospital in London and on Wednesday the stem cells were taken.

Most donations are about five million stem cells, but Stephen’s body produced a staggering 85 million. These will be kept in case the child has a relapse or needs any more in future.

Stephen said: “I’m a bit woozy and I’ve got a headache, but a few days of pain and discomfort is nothing compared to what this child and their parents have been through.”

The Anthony Nolan charity paid for the Gibbons’s transport and accommodation.

Michelle said: “It has been amazing. It has treated us like royalty.”

If the parents approve, he will get a progress update in six months and in two years’ time, he might have the chance to meet the child.

Stephen hopes his story will encourage other people to register, adding: “It’s easy to do. It’s not that painful. It is uncomfortable, but it’s giving someone the possibility of life.”

To find out more about registering, visit www.deleteblood cancer.org.uk/en