With only six to fifteen months left to live, Andrew, a medical professional and family man was recently diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS). As he fights for a second chance at life, he is dedicating himself to raising awareness about the transformative power of stem cell transplants.
For years, he had been a regular blood donor. However, when Andrew went to donate blood in March, his world was turned upside down. The routine finger prick revealed his haemoglobin levels were alarmingly low. Worried about this unexpected result, he underwent a full blood count, which set off a cascade of tests. Ultimately, a bone marrow biopsy confirmed his worst fears: he had high-risk MDS – a type of rare blood cancer that affects normal blood cell production in the bone marrow.
With a stem cell transplant from a matching donor being his only chance at survival, the doctors have made it clear that without prompt treatment, his life expectancy would be extremely short.
The diagnosis has been devastating for Andrew and his family. “Hearing that kind of news is something you can never prepare for,” he shared, his voice filled with emotion. “When you’re told how limited your time might be, it’s overwhelming. But I’ve decided to turn my story into a mission to spread awareness about the lifesaving impact of a stem cell transplant. Even if it doesn’t save me, it might save someone else.”
The beloved lecturer’s campaign has inspired his students to amplify his plea on their own social media pages and this is paying off with over 600 people registering as stem cell donors in the hopes of saving his life.
Palesa Mokomele, Head of Community Engagement and Communications at DKMS Africa, applauds Andrew’s selflessness, even in the face of such a distressing prognosis. “Having dedicated his life to caring for others, he now urgently needs someone to help him. I call on South Africans between the ages of 17 and 55 who are in good health to register as stem cell donors – you could help save his life.”
Register to help Andrew beat blood cancer at https://www.dkms-africa.org/register-now.
For more information, contact DKMS Africa on 0800 12 10 82.
