Bone marrow donor found for Colne woman (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Bone marrow donor found for Colne woman

1:33pm Monday 4th May 2009 in

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A MUM-of-two who has leukaemia is preparing to undergo a bone marrow transplant after a matching donor was finally found.

The Help Julie campaign was launched in October, one month after Julie Patefield, 37, was diagnosed with the disease.

It has involved a number of blood test clinics being held to find potential donors being held across East Lancashire.

But a positive match has eventually been discovered a bit further away - in America.

As a result Julie, of Colne, is now in hospital undergoing chemotherapy treatment in readiness for the transplant on May 13.

Following the diagnosis Julie’s family and friends set up the campaign to encourage more people to become bone marrow donors.

Andrew, Julie’s husband, who is a firefighter in Burnley, helped to organise 10 clinics at fire stations across East Lancashire.

In addition sessions also took place over the county border in Skipton and offshore in Jersey.

These led to the discovery of around 3,000 potential donors.

However, a positive match was found across the pond by national charity the Anthony Nolan Trust.

Julie, who has two daughters Jemima, seven, and Annabelle, three, was admitted to the Royal Manchester Infirmary, last week.

She will undergo conditioning followed by the bone marrow transplant, which will introduce stem cells to her system and replace the problem blood.

Despite the positive match being found through alternative means, Andrew said the campaign had been “fantastic.”

He added: “We’re feeling really positive and it’s full steam ahead now.

“The lady is from America and we’re so thankful to her - she’s a nine-out-of ten match which is the best we could find.

“We’re really grateful to everybody who helped with the campaign and everybody who was tested.

“There are now 3,000 more people on the register and it has raised awareness about the disease.

“Lives will be changed as a result of those people being on the register - if it saves one person’s life then that’s enough.”

After the transplant later this month, Andrew said the family, including Julie, will continue to campaign to find potential donors.