Swedish stem cell donor meets Welsh recipient and tours University Hospital of Wales after lifesaving donation

In 2019, Martyn was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia. Having been given a life expectancy of 1-2 years, he knew the only way to survive was to receive a stem cell transplant.

Martyn’s first hurdle was to complete intensive and gruelling chemotherapy and achieve remission. The second hurdle would be to find a match.

Unfortunately, Martyn’s siblings were not suitable donors, which meant that he would need to receive a stem cell donation from a stranger. Consultant Haematologist and deputy programme director Dr Wendy Ingram explains;

“There is only a 1 in 4 chance that if you have a brother or sister that they would be a match. It’s completely random, you may only have one sibling and they could be a match or you could have 10 siblings and none of them are a match and therefore the unrelated donor transplants are essential to offer a cure for patients.”

Martyn went on to complete two rounds of chemotherapy to achieve remission before he was told that a match had been found for him. At that time, Martyn had no idea that his donation would be coming across the North Sea from Sweden.

Stem cell transplants can be an extremely challenging time for patients physically and mentally, as they spend 3-4 weeks in isolation post-transplant, away from their loved ones.

Talking about his transplant Martyn explains;

“It was traumatic, but in a way it was easy because of the people I had around me. I know the nurses by first name and they are part of my family really.”

One of those nurses is Emily John, clinical nurse specialist within the blood and marrow transplant and CAR-T therapy team;

“Myself and my colleagues Leah and Leanne infused the stem cells and delivered Martyn’s transplant. It’s a joy to be there for patients on infusion day because it’s an accumulation of the journey that they have been through and it’s a great sense of accomplishment for the patients to get to infusion day – it’s like the first day of the rest of their lives.”

Martyn was eager to contact his donor to thank them for saving his life. After two years and with consent from both donor and recipient, you are able to contact one another and if you’re lucky enough, meet in person.

In August, stem cell donor Oscar made the trip from Sweden to meet Martyn and his family. A once in a lifetime opportunity, Martyn wanted to show Oscar where he received his life saving treatment and the clinical team that made it all possible.

The transplant programme in Cardiff started on St. David’s Day in 1983 and celebrated its 40th anniversary last year. Since then, the programme has completed over 3,000 transplants for both adults and children.

When asked how he felt about making the trip to Cardiff and meeting the recipient of his stem cells for the first time, Oscar said;

“I think it’s a surreal experience. Meeting him and coming here has put meaning to life and a deep and profound appreciation. This is what life is about.”

Oscar explained becoming a stem cell donor has always been an obvious thing for him to do;

“My friend told me about donating stem cells. I received a swab kit and a few months later I was contacted to say that there was a match and to ask me whether I wanted to proceed. It’s a big decision, but it didn’t really matter whether it would be hard or not because I couldn’t say no. It felt easy because it was an obvious choice. You can help save someone and if I were in that position I would like same thing to happen for me.”

As an ex-military man, being active is very important to Martyn. His daily routine before his cancer diagnosis would involve miles of walking each day with his springer spaniels, something he could no longer do when he was suffering with AML.

Speaking about his fitness post-transplant Martyn said;

“Thankfully, touch wood, my fitness has now increased and I can start walking and doing everything I want to do. Which is great. Having been an active person it’s very hard not to be. I can’t sit down each day and watch TV. I’ve got to be out doing bits and pieces. Whether its housework, gardening, ironing, washing and all things like that. I joke but the bottom line is I’m back where I want to be.”

Martyn would not have survived without his transplant and Oscar’s selfless donation and he urges anyone to get involved;

““If there wasn’t people like Oscar out there, I wouldn’t be here today. My message would be please wherever you can register and if you’re called up then please donate.”

Dr Keith Wilson, Consultant Haematologist and Director of the transplant programme

“Only 20 to 30% of patients who need a donor will find one within their own family. Come and join the party, come and save a life and it will be one of the best things you will have ever done.”