Donor disappointment at showcase Highland event for Easter Ross family but search continues to help tot Josie Davidson (3) find her perfect match
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A hopeful Easter Ross family hosted a donor drive at Piping Inverness on Saturday but were saddened to find their stall tucked away at the back of the event.
Steph Davidson of Alness is trying to find the perfect donor match for her three-year-old daughter who needs a bone marrow transplant.
She joined blood cancer charity DKMS at their stall at the high-profile event in a bid to add new people to the stem cell donation list.
Only 17 people signed up and by mid-afternoon most stalls had shut down because there was no foot traffic in that area.
Mrs Davidson is pulling out all the stops to find a 10/10 match for little Josie who suffers with dnajc21, a condition her older sister Adeline also has.
Adeline underwent the surgery last year, after a long search and a number of false starts. That proved to be successful.
Despite the disappointing day, Mrs Davidson maintained a positive attitude and was still glad to be there.
She said: “Seventeen is still more than the day before. I had hoped for more.
“I know how unlikely it is that someone will be a match but it’s about spreading the word about how easy it is and it feels like we are giving back because of Adeline’s successful transplant.
“It only takes one person to help someone.”
The family will be notified as soon as a match is found. Steph will be back out adding donors to the register at Moy Country Fair on August 5-6 and a stall will also be at the Nairn Show on July 30.
The process is very simple. First, you have to fill out a simple form with your contact information. Next, you take two swabs and rub them against your the inside of your cheek for a minute.
Then you take the final swap and rub it in the same place again.
