The family of a mother-of-two and lifelong Manx resident have launched a desperate appeal for a stem cell donor to save her life.
Jane Subachus from Sandygate, has myelofibrosis and has been told by doctors that she urgently requires new stem cells from a stranger to rebuild her immune system, so she can fight infection and disease.
Jane, 51, was first diagnosed with myelofibrosis in 2009 and received a transplant from her brother, Paul Sellors, who was a perfect match for her, which cured her. Earlier this year, she began feeling unwell again and was told that the rare blood disorder had returned.
Her doctors have advised Jane she should not have another stem cell transplant from her brother, Paul, in case her body rejects the cells. Blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan has sprung into action, and is actively searching for a new matching donor.
Jane said: ‘What I would say to someone who was thinking of signing up is; there’s something pretty straightforward you can do, that would have the most enormous, magical, amazing impact for someone like me.
‘You could do something as straightforward as swabbing your mouth, and could, maybe, donate one day which would be lifechanging for someone like me.’
She added: ‘Everyone has the potential to save someone like me.’
Rebecca Pritchard, Head of Register Development at Anthony Nolan, said: ‘We’ve seen in the past that the Isle of Man community has been incredibly supportive of our work and the need for more donors on the stem cell register.
‘It’s time to rally once more to get the message out loud and clear, so that we can find a match for people like Jane. We are urging everybody to support the #Join4Jane campaign by signing up to the register or by supporting our work financially’.
There will be a recruitment event at Douglas Rugby Club, Port-E-Chee, Douglas on the 3rd July, where people can sign up to become potential stem cell donors.
Anyone aged 16–30 and in good general health can join the Anthony Nolan register. It also costs £40 to recruit each potential donor to the register, so Anthony Nolan relies on financial support. To find about more about joining the Anthony Nolan register, or to find out more about the different ways you can support, visit anthonynolan.org/savealife and share the campaign using #Join4Jane