Inverness woman's gift-of-life stem cell donation via Anthony Nolan charity was inspired by plight of Highland child
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AN Inverness woman touched by the plight of an Easter Ross child desperately needing a stem cell transplant has given a life-changing donation after a bolt-from-the-blue call.
Abby Maclennan had signed up for the Anthony Nolan register more than three years ago after an appeal for would-be donors led by the parents of Adeline Davidson of Alness, Stephanie and Jordan.
Abby's boyfriend Stephen is a cousin of Jordan.
Happily, Addie finally received a bone marrow transplant last year.
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Meanwhile Abby, a part-time childhood practitioner at Ankerville Nursery in Alness, recently received a bolt-from-the-blue call from the charity to say that her cheek swab – given some three years ago – had seen her identified as a possible match for an adult woman living outwith the UK.
Abby (23), a mother of Luke (15 months), said: "I was totally taken by surprise. I saw the unidentified number and thought ' who is this?' It just stopped me in my tracks."
A blood test taken at her local GP practice then confirmed her suitability and she travelled to London earlier this month to donate some six million cells over two separate sessions. Poignantly, she was amongst patients suffering bone marrow cancer whilst doing it, bringing home the potentially-life-changing aspect of what she was doing.
She said: "I was quite emotional – it was quite overwhelming to think about it. But the staff were great and I was really well supported."
She has since learned the woman she was matched with has received her donation. She said she would encourage others to sign up to the Anthony Nolan register.
"It has brought home to me how precious life is," she said.
Find out more about donating here.
