Stem cell donation 'has made me realise how precious life is', says young mum inspired by plight of Easter Ross lass Adeline Davidson to help save a life after patient match call from Anthony Nolan charity
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A young mum 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 came to know about her plight through boyfriend Stephen, who is a cousin of Jordan.
She said: "I was straight on to put myself on the donor list."
RELATED: Alness youngster receives bone marrow transplant
Appeal to young men as Anthony Nolan charity boss backs health bid of Easter Ross lass
The initial process is as simple as giving a swab from the inside of the cheek.
Abby (23), originally from Alness and now living in Inverness, said: "I did the swab hoping to be a match for Addie. Time went on and in the meantime a match was found for Addie.
"Three years later I got a phone call.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's King College Hospital earlier this month to donate some six million cells over two separate sessions on subsequent days.
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 described the two days as "quite emotional and exhausting" but added: "I feel so privileged to be apart of someone’s journey back to health. I cannot thank the Anthony Nolan team enough and the staff at King College Hospital. They made the whole process so easy."
She has since learned the woman she was matched with has received her donation. She said: "They don't tell you where they stay but I do know it's a female adult and that she has now received the stem cells. I feel quite emotional about that. She can't personally get in touch with me but she can write via Anthony Nolan if she wants to and I can do the same."
She said she would encourage others to sign up to the Anthony Nolan register.
Addie meanwhile finally received a bone marrow transplant last year.
Abby, a part-time childhood practitioner at Ankerville Nursery in Alness, and mother of Luke (15 months), said: "It has brought home to me how precious life is. That's what I thought while I was there making the donation and when I came home."
For more information on Anthony Nolan visit anthonynolan.org/join
