Urgent call for bone marrow donors
IT is a literal, emotion-charged life and death situation, with time of the essence as a dying man waits for a compassionate donor.
For most people, the Covid year has been one of change and adaptation; but it has been that and much more for 53-year-old sportsman Lynton Lloyd.
Following bouts of severe exhaustion, La Lucia-based Lynton was decisively diagnosed in February with myelofibrosis, a life-threatening blood cancer.
Up to this point, Lynton had balanced an active business, sport and outdoor lifestyle, but these days his routine comprises a broad spectrum of oral medication and regular blood transfusions.
Having taken on some of the world’s most arduous physical feats including the Comrades and Two Oceans marathons and climbing Kilimanjaro, the news of his dire diagnosis was received with shock and disbelief by active and multi-disciplined sportsman Lynton and his wife, Susan.
It was a double whammy for the Lloyd family with Susan having also been a recent cancer survivor.
The family has been overwhelmed with support from friends, family and colleagues in Empangeni and elsewhere but they now have to look to the much broader community to find an unrelated donor match for Lynton, who desperately needs a lifesaving blood stem cell transplant. Unfortunately, Lynton has no immediate family that could be screened as possible matches.
With the chances of finding a donor match being 1:100 000 within one’s own ethnic group, the family is sending out a public plea for as many people as possible to register as potential life-saving donors.
Anyone who is healthy and between the ages of 18 and 55 is eligible to register and may contact DKMS Africa (formerly known as The Sunflower Fund) to find out how to become a donor.
This simple act directly translates into a second chance at life for anyone with a life-threatening blood disorder and in need of a lifesaving transplant.
To register as a donor is a quick and simple process which involves a non-invasive DNA cheek swab.
Once you have registered online, a DNA swab kit is sent to you via courier and then collected when you have completed the process.
'If you are a successful match, the donor process is as painless as donating blood,' explains Alana James, DKMS Africa Country Executive Director.
'Blood stem cells are collected from your circulating blood stream, much like donating platelets,' she added.
'Don’t think this type of thing will never happen to you. Don’t only start taking action and register as a donor once someone you know is requiring a donor match – that may be too late for someone!
'Become a donor now and know that you may be saving someone’s life somewhere in this world. It is a lot simpler than you realise,' urges Lynton.
Visit www.dkms-africa.org or call 0800 12 10 82, weekdays between 8.30am and 4.30pm to register or to find out more about becoming a blood stem cell donor.
If you are a successful match, the donor process is as painless as donating blood