When a family friend of Addalyn Clements came into the Mercury asking to promote a fundraiser for the little cancer sufferer and her family it was without question we would do so.
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Sadly, the stories of children struggling with this insidious disease are more common than people think.
But Addy – as she is fondly known – and her story turned out to be different.
Diagnosed with two rare cancers about 18 months ago, we learnt Addy had six months to live without a bone marrow transplant.
Our story also included the family’s heartfelt plea for people to come forward to register to become blood and bone marrow donors. Then her story reached the airwaves with NEW FM radio station picking up the cause.
What followed was nothing short of amazing.
Addy’s story generated hundreds of blood donations and almost 50 willing bone marrow donors.
More than 130 blood donations were made at the Maitland Donor Centre during the week Addy’s story was published while inquiries for the Bone Marrow Registry trickled in.
Unfortunately, a match for Addy was not found in the Hunter so the search went worldwide to almost 23 million global and 175,180 Australian donors.
And late last week, as Addy’s health began to fail, the Clements’ family received the news they wanted.
Addy had a donor, in fact she had two.
But the Clements family are not comfortable leaving their story here.
They, and the media, have seen just how powerful we all are.
We can save lives.
In the next six to eight weeks Addy will undergo the transplant that will save her life. While, in the meantime, one of her little friend’s will begin his own search for donor.
So let’s keep the momentum going because together we can move mountains.
For more information about donation visit donateblood.com.au.