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Teen Saves Five Lives in Stem Cell Donor Drive
9 Apr
Summary
- Teen Leo's stem cell appeal found donor, saving five others.
- Jasper, 13, received life-saving stem cell transplant from Zambia.
- Thousands needed for stem cell register; minority donors are scarce.

A worldwide search for a stem cell match for 17-year-old Leo Sproson, who battled leukemia, has yielded life-changing results. Following an appeal, Leo found his donor, and remarkably, five additional matches were discovered from those who came forward. This means Leo's recovery has also enabled him to save five other lives by raising awareness.
Leo has returned home from Birmingham QE Hospital, celebrating his recovery with family. His mother expressed immense pride in his contribution to saving lives.
Thousands of miles away, 13-year-old Jasper Makungu in Zambia is recovering from Sickle Cell Disease thanks to a stem cell transplant. His sister, Mercy, was his donor, and they traveled to Bangalore for the procedure. Jasper has returned home and is reportedly full of energy, though he continues to study remotely.