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Tragic Abigail's dad calls for more donors
THE father of a schoolgirl who died after a desperate search for a bone marrow donor failed has welcomed a medical breakthrough that could have saved her life.
The Anthony Nolan Trust is hoping to double the number of lives saved – by encouraging its donors to spit.
Currently, blood samples are used to determine bone marrow type for potential matches, which means a trip to the doctors.
But yesterday the leukaemia charity launched a new way for people to join its register.
They will ask for a saliva sample, which can be given from home.
Abigail Curry, a pupil at Whitburn Village School, died in June 2007 at the age of seven after a suitable donor wasn't found in time.
She was diagnosed with leukaemia at the age of two and had two years of gruelling treatment.
But the illness came back, and she had more chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Today, Abigail's father, Malcolm, 59, from Whitburn, welcomed the new saliva test.
He said: "The more people who register, the more lives will be saved. If the process is also easier, it will encourage more to come forward.
"There are people who have been reluctant in the past
to register because of the process. This new test will address those concerns.
"In the end, time simply ran out for Abigail.
"We went ahead with stem cells from umbilical cord blood treatment, which we knew didn't have good chance of working.
"We also need more people of dual heritage on the register, people from mixed race, half- African or half-Caribbean backgrounds.
"This new test is an encouraging development."
The saliva kits can be posted out to anyone who wants to join the register. They just need to complete a medical questionnaire, spit into the tube, and send it back.
Their data will then be stored pending further tests if a match is found.
To register, log on to www.anthoynolan.org.uk/donating/howtojointheregister
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Monday 21 May 2012
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