A British family of a 16-month-old girl suffering a rare form of blood cancer has launched a worldwide appeal to try to find a stem cell donor who can save her.
Margot was diagnosed just two months ago with a form of leukaemia. Doctors say it is so rare that they have only seen it three times in the past decade.
Margot desperately needs a bone marrow transplant to survive.
For that, she needs a blood stem cell donation from someone who is a match for her tissue type.
Her family is calling on people around the world to take a test that may help them find a perfect stem cell match for their daughter.
This morning, Margot’s parents appeared on Channel 10’s Wake Up.
Many people have asked us how they can help from Australia.
According to The Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry, to donate in Australia you need to go through these steps to be on the worldwide donor registry…
Step 1: Read through the brochure here
Step 2: In Australia a regular blood donation is required to be included on the Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry. Call the Australian Red Cross Blood Service on 13 14 95 to make an appointment to donate blood and join the registry.
Step 3: Check the Bone Marrow Donor Eligibility Criterion here
Step 4: When you go to donate blood ask the nurse at reception for the “ABMDR Enrolment Form” and complete this document before donating blood.
Step 4: Donate blood: You will be asked to make a blood donation of 470 mL and an additional 20-30 mL of this will be collected to determine your tissue type.
For more information on Margot see their Facebook page here. And please share this post so we can find help for Margot.
Top Comments
My question related to the uk residency issue as well. Can you register on the ABMDR if you are in eligible to donate blood because of living in the UK ?
Here's a question....
The Criteria on the ABDMR site for donation state "Although the ABMDR does not exclude donors based on UK residency,
donors are recruited through the Blood Service which does exclude people
who lived in the UK between 1980 and 1996 for a cumulative period of 6
months or more."
In this instance, given the little girl is in the UK, does this criteria need to be upheld?
This is only an issue if you are donating in Australia. It is an added precaution against BSE. We can donate to them.