Rebecca celebrates transplant anniversary

Uxbridge resident Rebecca Earley is celebrating one year since the bone marrow transplant which cured her leukaemia.

Rebecca, 23, says, ‘I had been feeling under the weather for a very long time before I was diagnosed but I thought I was just coming down with a cold or flu. When I told the doctor my symptoms, she called my local A&E informing them that I would be on my way and needed to be seen as soon as possible.’

Rebecca was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia in November 2011. Rebecca’s first round of chemotherapy was not successful and the doctors told her that she would need a bone marrow transplant to survive. Rebecca’s brother was not a suitable match and so Anthony Nolan searched their register to find an unrelated bone marrow donor.

Rebecca’s transplant took place in May 2012 and she has made a very good recovery. She is hoping to go back to her final year studying Primary Education at Roehampton University in September.

‘I know I still have a long way to go but if what I have been through so far didn't knock me down then getting back to my old self and building myself back up won't knock me down either.

‘I can not put into words how thankful I am for my donor and will be forever grateful to him. If it wasn’t for donors like him and Anthony Nolan, who recruit people to the bone marrow register, I wouldn’t be here today. I want to encourage as many people as possible to join the bone marrow register as you could be a match for someone. You could help someone who is in the same position as I was a year ago.’

Ann O’Leary, Head of Register Development at Anthony Nolan, says, ‘We are delighted that Rebecca is doing well one year on from her transplant. At the moment we can only find suitable donors for around half the people who need a lifesaving bone marrow transplant, like Rebecca. We particularly need more young men aged 16–30 to as they are the most likely to be chosen to donate.’