How signing up saves lives
"It felt special to be able to help someone in this way and I would do it again in a heartbeat,” says Sethu.
Her stem cell donation saved the life of a total stranger, and it all started with the simple act of signing up.
“I started giving blood straight from university when I was living in Bristol and I registered as a stem cell donor after seeing a leaflet before a donation,” Sethu says.
“I had a look through and thought, ‘I would be happy to do that,’ so I mentioned it to staff on the day and they took an extra sample from me when I gave my donation – that was it. I didn’t think any more of it.”
In March 2023 – nearly seven years later – Sethu got a call to say she was a potential match for someone.
It all happened really quickly but it was a very special experience.
Blood stem cells are produced in bone marrow, which is the soft, spongy tissue found at the centre of certain bones in your body. Blood stem cells produce all your essential blood cells, such as red blood cells to carry oxygen and white blood cells to fight infection.
Donated stem cells can be used in certain situations to treat conditions like leukaemia. For some patients, the best hope of a cure is receiving a stem cell transplant.
Finding a match, however, is like looking for a needle in a haystack. This makes the registry and people like Sethu vitally important.
The British Bone Marrow Registry – soon to be renamed the NHS Stem Cell Donor Registry – holds hundreds of thousands of records to provide a match for patients in need and forms part of a worldwide network of similar registries which match donors to patients across the globe.
"I travelled back to Bristol to donate some samples and undergo a full health assessment,” says Sethu. "The nurses there were amazing: they made me feel really comfortable and relaxed, even letting me play with the remote on the bed to make sure I was extra comfy!
"After I gave my samples, I was told I would hear within a few days what the next steps would be and if I was a good match for the patient. All went well and I was booked in to donate my stem cells a few weeks later.
(Picture: Sethu, who donated her stem cells to a match)
"It all happened really quickly but it was a very special experience. Once again, the staff were amazing and explained the whole process really well. I was so invested in everything and learnt all about how the machine separated the stem cells from my blood.
"The whole process took about 4 hours, during which time I watched a few episodes of Breaking Bad and enjoyed a nap too! Staff kept an eye on me and there were relatively no side effects, just a slight stiffness in my fingers. Staff also kept me topped up with refreshments and provided me with blankets and pillows for my nap!
"Following my donation, the team arranged for me to stay nearby in a hotel so I could get some food and relax afterwards. I popped in to see the team the following day and told them I had such a fun time donating with them and they said the same and that I had lit up the centre!
"I also shared my story on Instagram and was really humbled to hear a friend of mine has actually received stem cells in the past – I had no idea but knowing that he has gone on to live a good life was great to know and I hope my stem cells will do the same for my recipient."
If you are a male donor aged 17 to 40 or a female donor with Black, Asian, or mixed heritage aged 17 to 40, ask about joining the NHS Stem Cell Donor Registry at your next blood donation appointment.