A FRAMPTON Cotterell man who has given another person a new chance of life by donating his stem cells says it is “one of the best feelings in the world”.
IT worker Jack Parsons made the donation for a transplant which took place in February.
Jack, 34, signed up to the DKMS charity stem cell register soon after his mum Rose had received a stem cell transplant from an anonymous donor.
He said: “It just felt like the right thing to do.
“Someone had stepped up for her, and I wanted to do the same if I ever got the chance.
“The process was really simple – I had to just take some cheek swabs and answer a few health questions before posting off my sample.”
Rose had suffered a stroke on Boxing Day 2012, and doctors then discovered she had chronic myeloid leukaemia.
‘Shock’ at finding match
Jack said: “Thankfully, she was able to receive a stem cell transplant from an anonymous donor almost straight away with someone who was already signed up to the stem cell register, which gave her a second chance at life.”
He said it was “overwhelming” finding a match for his mum so quickly, adding: “We were still in shock that she had a stroke, brought on by chronic myeloid leukaemia; other than that, she had always been fit and healthy.
“It was a huge wave of relief and hope: someone out there had signed up to the register and was willing to donate, and that meant my mum had a real chance at survival.
“I’ll always be grateful for that person’s kindness.”
After 12 years on the register, Jack was able to give back.
He does not know the identity of the recipient, due to strict anonymity regulations for both parties, but knows the transplant was a success and the male recipient lives in France.
When he was told he was a match for someone in need, Jack said: “Mentally it was a mix of emotions – there was excitement, responsibility, and a deep sense of purpose.”
Following a couple of rounds of tests, and a week of special G-CSF (Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor) injections to prepare Jack’s body ready to donate, the transplant took place in February.
Jack said: “The injections made me feel a bit weak and tired but it was manageable.
“Then I donated via a simple, outpatient procedure similar to giving blood at a clinic in London.
“I was there for a few days before coming home to fully recover.”
Jack returned to work after a week and, just five weeks later, ran the Bath Half-Marathon on March 16.
He said: “I know what it’s like to be on the other side and now I’ve had the chance to give someone that same hope and opportunity.
“I feel incredibly grateful that someone gave that chance to my mum, so that my daughter Poppy could meet her nanny.”
Sign up to the register
Jack is urging others to sign the register.
He said: “If you’re able to do it then please do so, you could literally save a life.
“I signed up years ago never expecting to be called and then one day, I got the chance to help someone.
“You never know when you might be that one person someone is desperately waiting for.”
The DKMS or German Bone Marrow Donor File register is the biggest stem cell register in the UK, and can be found at www.dkms.org.uk/register
Top picture: Jack making his donation