Magical Match

S3 Ep3 Beverley de Gale & Orin Lewis from the African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust

In this episode, I chatted with Beverley de Gale and Orin Lewis, parents of Daniel de Gale, who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia at the age of six, back in 1993 and was the first black individual in the UK to receive a stem cell transplant six years later.
We talked about Daniel’s story and the difficulties they faced as a family in finding him a donor match and we chatted about the need for a diverse stem cell register and for people of all ethnicities to sign up if they can.
Our conversation took place earlier this summer and as Sickle Cell Awareness Month was in September, we also spoke about Sickle Cell Disorder and the impact that has on families needing urgent treatment.
Bev and Orin started the African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust after realising that their son, Daniel’s chances of finding a donor match were one in a quarter of a million. The work the ACLT do is incredible. I hope you enjoy the listen.
You can find out more about the work the African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust do and Daniel’s story at www.aclt.org
It is always such a huge privilege to be able to speak with my guests and share their stories. I hope you find this conversation both interesting and inspiring.
Thank you for listening.

S3 Ep 2 - World Marrow Donor Day 2024

In this episode, I talked with Martine Schuit van Reissen again, from the World Marrow Donor Association, based in the Netherlands. I also spoke with Dr Warren Fingrut, Haematologist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and Jeff and Susan Haertling from Marrow Mates in Florida. Jeff is a donor, himself and is Founder of Marrow Mates and Susan works as the Director of Genetic Genealogy and runs the EFDS Program.
We began the episode learning about the origins of World Marrow Donor Day and how it is celebrated. Dr Fingrut then chatted about his work as a Haematologist and also the work he does with the Stem Cell Club, which he set up to raise awareness and recruit donors to the register. Jeff is a donor himself and told us about his personal and very moving donor story. His wife, Susan, then explained her work creating the Extending Family Donor Search initiative. Marrow Mates’ hopes to expand the diversity of existing donor registries to enable equal outcomes for all blood disease patients in need of a stem cell transplant.
I’m very grateful to my guests today for their valuable insight and knowledge in the important topic of stem cell donation at the core of all they do. I hope you enjoy the World Marrow Donor Day celebrations and if you’re a donor, a heartfelt thank you on behalf of the families who you help. I hope this episode has inspired you to get involved and maybe sign up to the stem cell register, you could be someone’s magical match.
You can find out more about World Marrow Donor Day and our guests' work through these links, here:
https://worldmarrowdonorday.org/
https://wmda.info/
https://stemcellclub.ca/
https://www.marrowmates.org/
 

S3. Ep 1. The World Marrow Donor Association - Connecting the Right People

In this episode, I spoke with Martine Schuit van Reissen and Rhian Voskamp from the World Marrow Donor Association.
We chatted about everything from the importance of education, the awareness around the need and use of cord blood in stem cell donation and reaching as many people as possible around the globe to help them understand the importance of stem cell donation.
The World Marrow Donor Association works with many partners across the globe to build donor registries in every country around the world. Their work is ongoing and they are an incredible, small team of dedicated professionals, working with hundreds of wonderful volunteers to connect the right people with the right organisations to bring about the best resources to enable effective support to those in need around the world.
Martine and Rhian also shared their own personal stories that drive them to help others and I hope you enjoy the listen.
It was, as always, a huge privilege and humbling experience to speak with these amazing people. I am so grateful to be able to engage with my guests in this manner and hope it inspires those of you who listen to these conversations, to find out more about the stem cell register and maybe sign up in the hope of helping someone else in need.
You can find more about the World Marrow Donor Association here: https://wmda.info/
Thank you for listening.
 
 

S2. Ep8. Lisa Gosnay - Part Two - Nothing Can Match Just Being Here

In this episode, the second part of our two parter, we continue the conversation with Lisa Gosnay.
In part two, we hear about her struggles with career progression, her subsequent health issues which led to her relapse and her stem cell transplant.
Lisa has a blog on Instagram which you can follow here:
https://www.instagram.com/my_plan_c/#. 
As always, it is a huge privilege to be able to speak with such inspirational guests on this podcast and I really do hope that this conversation inspires you, too.
Please share it far and wide!
Thank you for listening.
 

S2. Ep8. Lisa Gosnay - Part One - Aplastic Anaemia

In this episode, we hear from Lisa Gosnay, who at 29, was diagnosed with Aplastic Anaemia.
Lisa is an amazing person and has an extraordinary story. In this two-parter, we hear about her initial diagnosis and treatment. We learn about her career struggles, having been very career-focused and her determination to keep going forward, despite the impact on her health; and her ultimate acceptance of her condition.
On this podcast, we usually focus on blood cancer, but this is about a blood disorder that can have a profound impact on an individual and as Lisa termed it, Aplastic Anaemia is known as the ugly sister to Leukaemia.
There is a stem cell transplant in this story, but we will hear more about that part of Lisa's experience in Part Two, coming soon.
As always, it is a huge privilege to be able to speak with such inspirational guests on this podcast and I really do hope that this conversation inspires you, too.
Please share it far and wide!
Thank you for listening.

S2. E7. Mike Niles - Hard Graft

In this episode we hear from Mike Niles, Author of 'Hard Graft,' - an incredible book combining the history and science of stem cells and donation. At its heart is a story of love and a mother's determination to save her son.
You can purchase Hard Graft on Amazon.
As always, it is a huge privilege to be able to speak with such inspirational guests on this podcast and I really do hope that this conversation inspires you, too.
Please share it far and wide!
Thank you for listening.

S2. Ep. 6. Andy Mitchell - @BluesVCancer Catch Up - Raising Awareness

In this episode we hear again from Andy Mitchell, who inspired this podcast's beginning back in February 2022.
We chatted about his own experience as a stem cell donor and inspiration behind the Blues V Cancer Campaign. We talked about the importance of stem cell donation and reflected on the last 19 months (this episode was recorded in September 2023).
Finally, we chatted about his upcoming Fundraising Event on 24 November to raise awareness and funds for Anthony Nolan and DKMS.
You can find @BluesvCancer on X / Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.
You can find out more about Anthony Nolan here at www.anthonynolan.org and DKMS here at www.dkms.org.uk
It was an absolute pleasure and privilege to catch up with Andy and hear his enthusiasm and commitment to raising awareness for the need for stem cell donors.
If you have a moment, do connect with him on social media and follow @bluesvcancer for updates, appeals and important information. You can also find out more and sign up to become a stem cell donor with www.anthonynolan.org or www.dkms.org.uk 
 

S2.Ep5. Better to Be A Donor than a Patient

In this episode we hear from Jake and Nelson Andrade. Jake was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia aged 13 years old and has undergone not one, but two stem cell transplants and has turned his experience into a book, 'My Leukaemia Fight.'
You can find out more about Jake and purchase his book here at www.jakeandrade.co.uk
As always, it is a huge privilege to be able to speak with such inspirational guests on this podcast and I really do hope that this conversation inspires you, too.
Please share it far and wide!
Thank you for listening.

S2. Ep 4. Blind Hope and www.foreverfour.com.au

In this episode, we hear from Louise Stevens, a mum of three boys, who talks candidly and openly about the loss of her four year old son, Jack, to JMML and the charity she set up with her husband, Gary in his honour, to help bereaved families.
She also speaks about her campaigning for change in Australia to make it easier to join the stem cell register there and donate.
You can find out more about her work here at www.foreverfour.com.au and can sign up in Australia with www.strengthtogive.org.au 
As always, it is a huge privilege to be able to speak with such inspirational guests on this podcast and I really do hope that this conversation inspires you, too.
Please share it far and wide!
Thank you for listening.
 

S2. 3. You Give The Patient Hope - Ellie Moss

In this episode we hear from Ellie Moss, Donor Recruitment Co-ordinator - Follow-up / Patient Donor Contact with DKMS.
We talked the huge impact that the extraordinary people who sign up to the stem cell register have on the people waiting for a stem cell transplant, the role she has within the organisation, the personal and emotional aspects of donating and all that happens after, when a donor and recipient meet.
It was a real privilege, as always, to speak with my guest and I'm grateful for Ellie's lively and informative, very human conversation around this topic.
DKMS began after Peter Harf's wife, Mechtild Harf was told the only treatment for her leukaemia was a bone marrow transplant. At the time, she had no matching family members.
On 28 May 1991, Peter founded DKMS with his wife’s transplant physician, Gerhard Ehninger. In their first year, they expanded the registry to 68,000 donors. After Mechtild sadly passed away, Peter and daughter, Katharina continued to be motivated by Mechtild and by 1995, they built DKMS into the world’s largest stem cell donor register.
DKMS celebrate 10 years in the UK this year and continue to work hard to raise awareness and bring more people to the stem cell register.
You can find out more about DKMS and signing up to the stem cell register at www.dkms.org.uk