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A DONOR has been found for leukaemia patient Henry Scot-Simmonds. The 24-year-old, from Cheltenham, faced a race against time to save his life after he was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukaemia in July. Following an appeal by the Echo, and the hard work of his friends and family, more than 1,200 people registered as potential bone marrow donors. Yesterday, his family received the news they had been waiting for - a match had been found for the former Pate's Grammar School pupil. If everything goes to plan, the transplant will take place at the end of October. Henry said: "I was confident I would get a donor, but when they told me there was a definite match I was over the moon. "I was with my dad and my girlfriend when I heard. I was so happy. The doctor even gave a little punch of the air. "It means I'm in the best possible situation I can be. I'm so appreciative of all the support I've had." Henry has also received other good news - following chemotherapy, he is in remission. Doctors had been worried a rare strain of the disease, known as a Philadelphia Chromosome, may not have reacted to treatment. But, for now, he has been given the all-clear. Henry's sister Georgina said: "It's amazing. He has a fight ahead, but even his consultant said what's happening is incredible. "The donor is a really good match. That's all we've been told. We don't know anything about where he came from, apart from that he is a young male. "I think further down the line, if Henry wanted to meet them to say thank you, he can - as long as they don't mind. "It's just brilliant. It doesn't guarantee him survival, but it gives him the best chance." Henry, who grew up in Charlton Kings, is currently having intensive chemotherapy. Georgina said: "He knows the transplant is going to be really hard and will make him really ill, but he just has to do it." Thousands were touched by Henry's story and registered as potential donors at sessions organised by the Anthony Nolan Trust at Kingsholm and Cheltenham Ladies' College, left. And 600 turned out for a London session after Henry's plight was featured in a the Metro newspaper. Henry, a civil engineer, became ill as he worked in London. The rugby player, who played for Old Patesians, carried on at work until he collapsed. He was taken to St Thomas' Hospital, in London, where he was told he needed a bone marrow transplant within two to three months to save his life http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/ |
