Bone marrow donor saves boy’s life – then weds woman who inspired him to sign up
billy Higgins only signed up as a bone marrow donor to impress his office crush.
Now his ploy has worked out better than anyone could have hoped – for not only did he marry the colleague in question, but he proved the ideal match for a boy with a rare blood disorder.
Without Mr Higgins’ help, Rupert Cross was at risk of leukaemia. Two years on, the ten-year-old has made a full recovery – and come face to face with the donor he calls his ‘superman’.
Rupert, who is now back at school, said: ‘i feel very lucky ... i can’t believe someone would do this for me.’
Mr Higgins, 29, added: ‘i’m not really a believer in karma but it’s nice when things come together like this and everyone gets a happy ending.’
Mr Higgins had signed up with the blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan in 2011 after seeing Kate Willis, his colleague at investment bank MUFG, taking part in a recruitment drive for donors.
‘We’d spoken before but i saw the opportunity to get to know her a bit better. i thought joining the queue would put me in a good light,’ he said.
The gambit worked – and went on to provide vital help for Rupert after it emerged no family members were a match for a bone marrow transplant.
He had fallen sick in 2014, and was referred to Great Ormond Street Hospital in london after a series of headaches. in April 2016 he was diagnosed with myelodysplasia – a condition that makes bone marrow produce immature cells instead of red blood cells.
The disorder, which normally affects the elderly, can lead to a life- threatening deterioration of the immune system. After it emerged his relatives could not help, Mr Higgins emerged as a suitable match. He was called in to make a donation, and Rupert received his transplant that same day in June 2016. Having needed chemotherapy before the procedure, Rupert then spent 88 days in isolation at the hospital after suffering complications. However, he has now recovered, and is back at school.
Rupert’s parents Holly, 47, and Toby, 43, from Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, emailed their thanks to the City trader after the minimum two-year wait for recipients to contact donors. He agreed to meet the family at a pub this month, where Mr Higgins revealed the good news of his own – his wedding to Kate, 31, with whom he lives in Basildon. They are a lovely couple and the story was magical,’ Mrs Cross said. ‘He only went into the queue because the girl he liked was there. if it wasn’t for Kate this wouldn’t have happened – and for them to get married ... the story is crazy.’ Mr Higgins said: ‘They’ve been through so much and i wasn’t fully aware of the impact you’re having on someone’s life when you donate. it was just so nice to have been able to help.’ Henny braund, chief executive of Anthony Nolan, said Mr Higgins ‘can be incredibly proud of the difference he has made’.