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Stranger's Stem Cells Give Teen Leo a Second Chance
17 Feb
Summary
- A teenager received life-saving stem cell treatment.
- A donor was found after a media appeal and charity partnership.
- Thousands signed up to the stem cell donor register following the appeal.
A teenager identified as Leo Sproson, aged 16, is scheduled to receive a life-saving stem cell transplant on Wednesday. This critical treatment became possible after a worldwide search for a compatible donor, significantly boosted by a media appeal and a partnership with the blood cancer charity DKMS.
Leo, who requires the transplant for a second chance at life due to leukaemia, initially faced delays. However, a complete stranger, described as a 10/12 match, was ultimately cleared and ready for the procedure. This development means Leo will not require radiotherapy.
The appeal resulted in approximately 1,000 individuals signing up online and over 700 registering in a single day at an event in Bromsgrove. DKMS highlighted that while Leo's situation has a hopeful outcome, many others are still awaiting donors, emphasizing the ongoing need for people to join the stem cell register.
Leo's family, including his mother Jenna and father Warren, will continue raising awareness about the importance of stem cell donation. In the UK, nearly 13,000 people die from blood cancer annually, and around 2,000 individuals are in need of a stem cell transplant at any given time.
