A Gateshead man has taken the extraordinary and potentially lifesaving step to donate his stem cells to a total stranger, giving a them a second chance at life.
Paul Parkinson, 38, is a residential property surveyor. He lives in Gateshead with his wife, his five-year-old son, and their dogs. He joined the DKMS stem cell register in 2020 alongside his wife, after they heard the story of Azaylia Diamond Cain, the daughter of former footballer and reality TV star Ashley Cain. She was a little girl the same age as their son, who had been diagnosed with leukaemia, and was searching for a stem cell donor.
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.
Years passed, and Paul didn’t think he would hear anything more. He had mostly forgotten about the stem cell register, so when he saw some emails from DKMS, he didn’t open them at first. Then, one day at work he received a phone call to say that there was a patient undergoing treatment, and he was their match.
“It was surprising getting the call,” says Paul.
“I’d sort of forgotten about joining the register, so it took a minute to get my head around it. As soon as I realised what was being asked, I was very happy to help. I knew when I signed up, that if I could be the one help someone, I’d be very glad to do it.”
Paul was a stem cell match for a very ill patient, who was in desperate need of a stem cell transplant to give them a second chance at life. DKMS sent a nurse to his house to do a quick blood test to confirm, and within a few weeks his medical assessments were complete, and he was on his way to Sheffield to donate. Paul donated stem cells through a process called PBSC, which is a simple, outpatient procedure similar to donating blood platelets.
“The whole process was very simple. I had to do some self-injections for a few days before, which was the hardest part. I’ve never liked needles, but my wife was able to do that bit for me. The company I work for were really supportive, so I finished a bit early the day before the donation and headed down to Sheffield with my wife and my son.”
“There was a hotel for us the night before, and I turned up to the hospital early to get started. I was a bit nervous, but I’d been shown the machine during the medical check-up, so I knew what to expect. Once I was hooked up to the machine, it just did its thing – the blood went out one arm and then went back in the other, it was done in about 5 hours. I was tired afterwards, maybe a bit lightheaded, but overall it was totally fine.”
After his donation, Paul was able to receive a bit more information about the person who had received his stem cells. He now knows that the patient is a woman in her 20s or 30s. His stem cells were immediately transported to her, so that this woman could have her transplant. There are strict rules protecting the anonymity of the patient for two years after donation, but eventually Paul and his recipient may be able to contact each other, if they wish to.
“The whole experience was great, I got to help someone – maybe even save her life – but it didn’t feel like I had to do much. The process is a lot more straightforward than people think; people told me that they assumed I’d be having surgery, and a big needle to the bone marrow, but it wasn’t like that at all. I was very well looked after by DKMS and all the nurses and specialists, and hopefully it means that woman will get her life back.”
DKMS spokesperson Bronagh Hughes says,
“Paul 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 Paul, 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 painless mouth swabs and a few health questions.”
Now, Paul is teaming up with DKMS to encourage more people to join the stem cell donor registry. He says,
“I’d encourage everyone to get on the register, it’s really easy, and in the future you could be called to save someone’s life. I’m just glad I was able to support someone in need, but I don’t feel like it took much from me. If you do get called up, there’s nothing to be worried about”.
Anyone aged 17-55 and in general good health can sign up with a few simple mouth swabs. To find out more, and order your swab kit, visit dkms.org.uk.
Things you didn’t know about blood cancer:
1. Blood cancers are the third most common cause of cancer death in the UK
2. Every year, nearly 13,000 people die from blood cancer in the UK
3. At any one time there are around 2,000 people in the UK in need of a stem cell transplant
