Brother gave me 20 years of life
A West Lothian man given the gift of life when he received a bone marrow transplant from his brother is celebrating 20 years of good health.
Brian McConnachie says he now makes every day count and spends as much time as he can with his family.
Brian and wife Jackie, from Wilkieston, are under no illusion how lucky they are as most patients do not survive nearly as long.
they are celebrating the anniversary with a party with friends and family and said they want to use the opportunity to again thank Brian’s brother steve and to encourage people to sign up to the bone marrow register.
The phrases ‘live for the moment’ and ‘make every day count’ are often used by people without much thought about their real meaning.
But for one West Lothian man these are words to truly live by.
Twenty years ago this month, dad- of- three Brian McConnachie was given a second chance at life when he received a bone marrow transplant from his brother after being diagnosed wth acute myeloid leukaemia.
Brian was desperately ill and was told he would only have weeks to live without the transplant.
After tests were done on his family, older brother Steve was found to be a match and preparations were made for the procedure.
But before the transplant could be carried out Brian had to undergo several rounds of gruelling chemotherapy and radiation and spent months at the Western General in Edinburgh.
He could barely walk following the procedure and at one point contracted septicaemia.
Brian faced a tremendous struggle to recover and it was a further two years before his body recovered from the ordeal.
Now enjoying full health, although he tires easily and says his memory is poor, he works part-time as a porter at St John’s Hospital.
Brian and wife Jackie said they appreciate how lucky they are to be celebrating 20 years since the transplant as most patients do not survive nearly as long.
They have organised a special party and will be surrounded by family and friends who will raise a glass to Brian and Steve, who said he did not think twice about helping his brother.
Brian (54) said: “I’m invited along to the Maggie’s Cancer Centre every three years to meet other patients and there’s only one other person there who as lived as long as myself following a bone marrow transplant.
“I often speak to people in St John’s who are undergoing the same treatment I did and when I tell them I had leukaemia it gives them hope.
“I also hope hearing my story will encourage people to become organ donors and give blood.”
Jackie said she and Brian try not to get upset about the little things in life and appreciate everything they have.
And over the years their family have raised several hundred pounds for the Anthony Nolan Trust and other charities.
She continued: “When Brian was in the hospital I would often go for a coffee with the wives of some of the other men who were undergoing treatment.
“One day I noticed one of them wasn’t there and asked where they were. I found out her husband had died and, while I knew what Brian had was serious, it really hit me hard then just how serious it was.
“It was hard to try and keep everything as normal as possible too for our children, who were very young at the time.
“They didn’t understand then what was happening but now they are grown up with children of their own they really appreciate having their dad here and appreciate what Steve did for him.”
Brian said he and his brother spoke about the transplant in depth at the time but 20 years on they try not to dwell on it.
He said he is lucky he was one of the 25 per cent of leukaemia patients who find a match within their family and paid tribute to his brother’s generosity in helping him.
He continued: “He jokes that he’s still waiting on payment and I say I’ll give him a kidney if he needs it. We’re really close. I don’t know how you ever thank someone who has saved your life.”
Jackie, who works in Morrisons in Livingston, added: “Steve didn’t hesitate. It didn’t occur to him not to go through with the transplant but then who wouldn’t help their brother when they’re going through something like this?”
Brian undergoes tests every three years to make sure the cancer has not returned.
He said he now lives his life to the fullest and spends as much time as he can with his children and three young grandchildren.
Brian added: “I work now because I enjoy it and make enough to pay the bills. Why worry about something as little as money?”
He jokes that he’s still waiting on payment and I say I’ll give him a kidney if he needs it