Can you save a child's life?
Mar 1 2007 By Paul James, The Journal
The Journal readers are today being urged to become potential lifesavers in memory of inspirational teenager Josie Grove.
The 16-year-old died on Monday after succumbing to leukaemia - months after her decision to forgo further treatment.
After two failed bone marrow transplants and being told her condition was terminal, Josie gave up on hospitals to spend her final months with her family.
Today The Journal and the Anthony Nolan Trust have teamed up to urge more people to join the bone marrow register and help save other children such as Josie.
Backed by the Grove family, we are calling on readers to take the simple step of joining the trust's bone marrow register - and become a potential match for the dozens of desperate youngsters who need a transplant every year in the North-East.
About 40 bone marrow transplants are carried out annually in the region - but doctors say they could perform 50% more if more people joined the register. They say they are fighting the misconception that becoming a bone marrow donor is painful or difficult.
In fact all it involves is giving a tiny blood sample. If you are a match, you will have to give up possibly a day of your time for a procedure similar to giving blood.
The Anthony Nolan Trust has 382,336 people on its national database, which is linked to the British Bone Marrow Register's 297,333 people and the Welsh Register`s 46,480. But doctors say children are still dying in the North-East because there aren't enough people on the register.
Of the 12 children currently awaiting treatment at Newcastle's Bubble Unit, four have matches, four have only moderately promising matches and four have none.
The Journal Editor Brian Aitken, who is doing a sponsored slim for the Josie appeal, said: "We have been overwhelmed by the support from our readers for the Josie appeal and the money they have raised. I personally have been extremely well-supported by the business community in my own efforts to slim down for the fund.
"We now feel it's time to encourage people to take that more practical step and sign up to the bone marrow register in Josie's name and potentially save a life like hers."
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I would do it all again tomorrow
Six months ago Catherine Robertson became a bone marrow donor - and would do it again tomorrow.
The civil servant and husband Lee were regular blood donors, and became potential lifesavers when they signed up to the register more than 10 years ago by giving a small blood sample.
Last year Lee, 43, a database administrator, was told he was a match, but was called off from donating when the transplant patient became too ill for treatment.
But then Catherine, 41, a civil servant, was called up and in August went to London to donate stem cells.
She said the process had been so simple there was no reason for anyone to fear anything from signing up to the Anthony Nolan Trust bone marrow register - only hope they may save a life.
After three days of injections to boost the stem cells in her blood, she was hooked up to a device similar to a dialysis machine, which took blood from one arm, from which the stem cells were removed, and then pumped the blood back into her other arm.
The procedure took around four hours. Catherine said: "It was so easy I can't belive more people don't do it. It was just like an extended blood donation session. The staff make you feel really at ease.
"You're given lots of literature and lots of information about it. A nurse came to the house and gave me injections for three days, then I stayed overnight in London and did the procedure first thing the next day.
"It was a very pleasant experience and there was no real discomfort."
Catherine, who lives with Lee in the Northburn area of Cramlington, added: "It was lovely to think that I might have given somebody the chance of life they might not have had before. If that's all it takes then why not do it?"
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Can't put a price on irreplaceable time
The family of inspirational Josie Grove yesterday urged The Journal readers to join the bone marrow register in her daughter's memory.
Just two days after Josie died, Jacqui Grove said even though Josie's second transplant ultimately failed, it gave her and husband Cliff another two years with their daughter.
Because donors remain anonymous, the Grove family never had the chance to thank the two people who extended Josie's life to the age of 16, but Jacqui, 44, said that extra time was "irreplaceable".
Speaking from the family home in Princes Street, Corbride, where she lives with fellow jewellery designer husband Cliff, 46, sons Charlie and Freddie and daughter Libby, she said: "There's so many people who still can't find a match. The more people that can get on the register the better.
"There's a chance that it can work and be a cure. There's also a chance of giving a child an extra few months or years that they wouldn't have had with their families otherwise. It made such a difference to Josie with those two extra years that she had, we had some very special times together.
"That's so precious. We weren't able to thank the bone marrow donors for Josie because of the system, but people should know that it is appreciated so much. That time is so special, so irreplaceable, you can't put a price on it."
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Process as simple as donating 5ml of blood
It could hardly be easier to become a potential lifesaver.
All you need to do is contact the Anthony Nolan Trust, who will either let you know when their next event is taking place or will send out a kit to your local GP.
The process is as simple as giving a minute 5ml of blood - and that's it.
There are some conditions on donors -you have to be aged between 18 and 40, in general good health and weighing more than 51kg/8stone. Women must not be pregnant, and women with children under the age of 12 months cannot join the register or donate marrow during that time.
Your name is then added to the register, and the next you will hear is if you are a match for anyone seeking treatment. The process then involves either the traditional needle method, or a procedure very similar to giving blood.
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Use Josie's name to join register
A special email address has been set up in Josie Grove's name for The Journal readers to join the Anthony Nolan Trust's bone marrow register.
The charity will soon be holding session across the North-East for people to attend, but the trust can also arrange for people to register through their GP.
The email address to contact is josie@anthonynolan.org.uk
For those without email access, the donor hotline is 0901-882-2234.
Donors identities are kept anonymous, but please remember to mention The Journal's Josie Grove Appeal when asked how you found out about the number so we can record how many people are signing up in Josie's name.
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Abigail still waiting for a match
One youngster still waiting for a match is seven-year-old Abigail Curry, of Whitburn, South Tyneside, who spent time on the same ward as Josie at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary, and who has been fighting leukaemia for five years.
Her father Malcolm yesterday launched the Anthony Nolan Trust's Zip Line challenge, which will see hundreds of thrill-seeking fundraisers launch off the Tyne Bridge in May.
Josie's mother Jacqui yesterday said: "Josie knew Abigail from being at the RVI together and we saw the family there many times. We're really keeping our fingers crossed for her and sending the family our love."
Anthony Nolan Trust area manager Peter Finnigan said: "To save a life people don't have to do that much.
"I've never met a donor who hasn't been prepared to do the same again. It's such an easy process, but such an important one."
Josie's consultant, Dr Rod Skinner, said: "There's been a small number of children each year where we haven't been able to find a transplant because we haven't been able to find a donor.
"I desperately hope we'll find one for Abigail but we're not successful all the time."
