Brave youngster meets hero who saved his life

Health: Finn is cancer free thanks to Anthony’s vital bone marrow donation

A brave Stonehaven youngster has finally met the hero donor who saved his life.

Finn Mackin was struck down with a rare and deadly form of leukaemia when he was only 11 months old.

It caused tumours to grow behind his eye and on his brain.

The youngster had to spend four months in Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital while undergoing chemotherapy.

That was the first of numerous stays in hospital in Aberdeen and Glasgow as he fought the illness.

Against all odds he became cancer free after a life-saving bone marrow transplant and at least 50 blood transfusions – all before he turned two.

Stranger Anthony Lenton was found to be a perfect donor match.

His identity remained a secret for twoand-a-half years, until he travelled from Galashiels to meet Finn and his family at their home in Stonehaven.

Mum Siobhan Rolinson and dad Stephen Mackin now hope their story will inspire others to sign up to become a potential donor.

Siobhan called Anthony a “true hero” and said Finn has “a friend for life”.

“Without Anthony, Finn wouldn’t be here – as simple as that,” she said.

“We were running out of options and the transplant was the final one. “You’re relying on this one thing.” Anthony signed up to the register as a student.

He was identified by the Anthony Nolan Trust as a perfect donor match for Finn.

Anthony’s stem cells were removed from his bone marrow and then given to Finn via a drip in October 2015 and he remains cancer free.

Anthony said: “I have a nephew the same age and I can’t imagine him going through the same things that Finn has.

“It’s amazing. He looks like he’s not even been through anything, he’s just a normal child that’s just happened to go through a horrible ordeal.”

It is hoped Finn and Anthony’s story will encourage others to sign up to the register. Anthony has also been invited to Siobhan and Stephen’s wedding next year.

Stephen added: “Life as we know it would be something completely different. So we’ll be forever thankful for what Anthony did.”

gstrachan@thecourier.co.uk

“

Without Anthony, Finn wouldn’t be here. We were running out of options and a transplant was the final one . . . MUM SIOBHAN ROLINSON

Finn comes face to face with life-saving donor Anthony.