Colchester duo raise awareness of stem cell donation

In 2009, aged just 11, my family and I were given the devastating news I was living with aplastic anaemia, a rare and life-threatening blood disorder caused by the bone marrow not functioning properly.

My only chance of survival was a stem cell transplant.

Every year thousands of people like me rely on the generosity of people like Gemma Cuff who selflessly donate their stem cells to give someone a second chance of life.

Awareness - Gemma, pictured with her mum Mandy who was by her side through her donation, recently held a donor drive at her Colchester office (Image: Elliot Deady, Newsquest)

This year I’ll be celebrating 13 years since my lifesaving transplant, which I received three weeks after my 13th birthday.

The kind act of my unrelated donor gave me a second chance at life – one that’s been doubled in length.

What is a stem cell transplant?

Gemma, who is originally from Hockley but moved to Colchester as a teenager, registered as a stem cell donor last year after somebody close to her was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of blood cancer.

Within six weeks she received a call to say she was a match.

“If chemotherapy hadn’t worked, they would’ve needed a stem cell transplant,” explained Gemma.

The 36-year-old added: “Once they’d recovered, it was made clear to me there aren't enough people on the stem cell register. People give blood all the time, but not their stem cells.”

Lifesaver - Gemma was identified as a match just six weeks after joining the register (Image: Gemma Cuff)

Stem cells are the building blocks of the body’s blood and immune systems.

They have the ability to transform into various types of blood cells, which makes them essential in the treatment of a range of illnesses, including leukaemia, lymphoma, and other blood disorders, like the one I was diagnosed with.

Once a suitable match is identified, most donors will have their stem cells collected through their bloodstream, by removing their blood from one arm, filtering out the stem cells, and then returning the remaining blood to the other arm.

Explaining the run-up to the procedure, Gemma said: “For one week I couldn’t go to the gym, and I was told to increase my calcium levels, so I enjoyed lots of chocolate, ice cream, and cheese.

“It didn’t hurt. It was uncomfortable as you’re not allowed to move your arm. And it was very emotional.”

Gemma spent around a week recovering from the donation, which she says is “genuinely the best thing [she’s] ever done”, and was supported by DKMS who covered her loss of earnings, accommodation, and travel costs.

The business owner, who runs Gemstone Mortgages in North Hill, Colchester, was planning to run a half marathon to raise much-needed funds and awareness, but her training was halted after a request for a second donation of stem cells for the same patient.

For me, as a recipient, the transplant itself was fairly straightforward too.

Miracle - Elliot received his transplant at 13 and is about to celebrate his 26th birthday (Image: Elliot Deady)

I spent just over two weeks in hospital before the transplant receiving an intensive course of chemotherapy to give my new immune system a clean slate to build itself upon. That was definitely worse than receiving the stem cells.

I was in high spirits on transplant day. Finally, the end of this horrendous ordeal was in sight. I even enjoyed a takeaway pizza before the stem cells arrived on the ward.

The stem cells were given to me on a drip - very similar to a blood transfusion - and it was over in what felt like minutes.

From there it was a long road to recovery as my body went through the process of accepting the donation. I spent months going in and out of hospital, but almost 13 years later I’m fighting fit.

Sadly a lack of research into the causes of aplastic anaemia means I’ll likely never be told I’m fully in remission, so there is a constant fear my condition could rear its head again. But I don’t let that get in my way of enjoying life.

I’ve done amazing things in my “second life”. I’ve taken part in road running races. I’ve bought my own home. I’ve travelled to some amazing places.

And I’ve embarked on my dream career as a journalist, which was partly inspired by an appearance in the Gazette in 2013.

Inevitable - A career in journalism was always on the cards after an appearance in the Gazette in 2013 (Image: Elliot Deady)

I owe my entire life to my donor.

Anthony Nolan put me in contact with him a few years after my transplant, as I was itching to share my gratitude. I’d love to meet him one day to see if we have more in common than just genetics!

How can I donate my stem cells?

Stem cell donation is facilitated by a network of organisations, including Anthony Nolan and DKMS. These charities work to match donors with patients in need of a transplant.

Potential donors can register by providing a sample of their DNA through a simple cheek swab. The sample is then added to a national registry, which is searched if a patient doesn’t have a suitable match in their family.

According to Anthony Nolan, only three per cent of people in the UK are registered as stem cell donors. Once you're on the register, you have a one in 800 chance of being asked to donate.

Save a life - It's easy to join the register online (Image: DKMS)

For the 2,000 people in the UK in need of a transplant every year, every name on the register really does make a difference.

You can find out more information about joining the register by visiting dkms.org.uk/gemstone.