From one life to another: how Nella’s stem cells made a difference
Make a difference and help the Sunflower Fund save a life. Visit their stand at Savannah Mall, Clicks Court on Saturday
POLOKWANE – You can save someone’s life by doing as little as visiting Savannah Mall, this Saturday between 10:00 and 14:00. The Sunflower Fund is a donor recruitment centre and registry that fights blood diseases like leukemia, through the recruitment of stem cell donors.
Review got hold of a very special lady, Nella du Bruyn, who decided to become a stem cell donor.
“I wanted to save someone’s life. I would like to help every person diagnosed with cancer. I am an organ donor and I regularly donate blood as well.” she says.
Her journey started in 2013 when she heard about two Polokwane residents, Calie van der Walt and Suné de Villiers, who needed stem cells to save their lives.
“I got myself tested and joined the Sunflower Fund, unfortunately I was not a match. In 2014 they contacted me to say I might be a match and needed permission to continue the process. Initially I was a 50/50 match and finally a 100% match. The donation would go to a woman with leukemia.”
She explains the identities remained anonymous.
“We are allowed to write letters to each other, but with no personal detail. I signed a consent form to meet the woman this year, I just hope she wants to meet me.”
She says she had to go to Cape Town to the Groote Schuur Hospital to have a full medical check-up. Before they harvested the cells, she had to undergo hormone therapy to increase the stem cell count.
“I was admitted a day before the harvest so I can receive anticoagulants, to prevent my blood from clotting. The day after they harvest the cells were flown to the recipient. I had to stay a day after the procedure to ensure everything is okay.”
She explains how she had to lie on her back while a needle was placed into the artery in her groin. This artery leads straight to the heart. Her blood was circulated 14 and a half times in the eight and a half hour procedure.
“I had to lie very still so the machine doesn’t go haywire. At some stage, my body’s magnesium levels dropped and it felt like I was dying. The nurses injected me with magnesium and I started to feel better.”
The procedure can only be done by a surgeon and Nella had to share the room with patients receiving chemotherapy.
“It was quite emotional. One lady came to thank me for what I’m doing, as it means someone else will live.”
Criteria to become a donor:
– Between the ages of 18 and 45.
– Weigh more than 50 kg.
– Have a BMI of less than 40.
– Lead a healthy lifestyle.
– Willing to help any patient in need.
“Unfortunately this is not a free process. It is quite expensive for both the recipient, as well as the donor. I was lucky enough to have a sponsor. The odds of being a match are about 1:100 000 and I’m sure there will be more donors, if the process was made more affordable.”
Visit Savannah Mall on Saturday to find out more or phone the Sunflower Fund at 0800 12 10 82. Visit their stand at the Clicks Court, Entrance one.
