Oncology nurse in Bath becomes stem cell donor
Jansen Dela Cruz, a Clinical Trials Nurse in the Oncology department at the Royal University Hospital (RUH) in Bath, recently donated her stem cells to help save the life of someone she had never met.
However, the impact of her act of generosity did not stop there. Her donation inspired dozens of her colleagues to take action themselves too.
Almost 40 members of hospital staff at the RUH signed up to join the stem cell register at a swabbing event held in July. The donor recruitment event was organised by Jansen herself in partnership with DKMS.
She was inspired to do so after she donated her stem cells earlier this year – which she shared was one of the proudest moments of her entire life. She wanted her colleagues to be able to experience this feeling too, so she decided to provide them with the opportunity to get signed up.
It was Jansen's experiences with cancer both professionally and personally that motivated her to become a potential stem cell donor in the first place.
Several years after joining the register, Jansen received a call from DKMS to say she was a potential match for a patient in need of a transplant. Following medical checks, DKMS made all the necessary arrangements for her to travel to a clinic in London to donate her stem cells.
For most donors, like Jansen, stem cell donation is a straightforward outpatient procedure that takes just a few hours. For patients with blood cancer and other disorders, however, it can offer a second chance at life.
Only around one in three patients will find a matching donor in their family, which is why we encourage as many people as possible to join the register.
Although strict regulations protect the identities of donors and recipients, Jansen knows that her stem cells were loaded straight onto a plane across the Atlantic and received by an older man in North America.
“I hope that after the stem cell transplant, he will be living his best life and ticking all the boxes in his bucket list of things to do. And enjoying time with his family.
“I highly encourage everyone to sign up, as it increases the chances of people getting matched. Saving someone’s life is one of the proudest moments that you could ever experience.”
If you too are inspired by Jansen's story, you can join the register today.
It's super quick and simple – all it takes is a few cheek swabs.
