Post Script

In the last edition I printed an article about Needham resident, Denis Tavner who mentioned to me that he had donated bone marrow to his brother not once but twice.  His brother who had a life threatening illness is still fit and well and living in Australia.

Bone marrow is a soft tissue found in the centre of certain bones in your body.  It is this bone marrow which creates stem cells. Stem cells are the ‘building blocks’ which can grow into any of the other normal blood cells, such as red cells which carry oxygen; white cells which fight infection, or platelets which tsp bleeding.

There are a number of diseases that prevent a patient’s bone marrow from working properly.  These include leukaemia and aplastic anaemia as well as other diseases of the immune system.  Although chemotherapy will successfully treat some of these patients of many the only cure is to have a stem cell transplant from a healthy donor.

Everyone knows blood is literally a lifesaver for those who've been in an accident or need it to help survive treatments and operations. But for some, whose illness has no cure and that last battle they face just can't be won, a blood transfusion can help to improve their quality of life during their final months, weeks or even days.
You can register to become a blood or bone marrow donor by visiting:

https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/how_to_become_a_donor/registration/consent.asp