Five years after his transplant, a young boy meets the woman who gave him a second chance at life in an emotional encounter.
At just two years old, Jacob from Bishop's Stortford was diagnosed with a rare and life-threatening condition called haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a disease that affects infants and young children. His only chance for survival was a stem cell transplant. Hope eventually came 10 months later, when his parents received life-changing news: a compatible donor match had been found.
In March 2019, Jacob received a stem cell transplant from a woman he had never met — a 50-year-old woman from Scotland who had signed up as a DKMS donor.
Five years later, Jacob and his parents finally got the chance to meet his hero, Lorna, in an emotional and moving encounter organised by DKMS. Jacob said, “It’s nervous and exciting at the same time.” His parents echoed that feeling, sharing how they had met other children who, sadly, never found their match. But for Jacob, he’s been able to go abroad for the first time, swim, go to school, and live an exciting life - that miracle came through Lorna.
Lorna, who had no idea who she was donating to at the time, shared her excitement at meeting Jacob. “I can’t believe I get to meet him after so many years; it’s amazing. I think everyone should sign up to the DKMS register,” she encouraged.
This touching reunion is a beautiful reminder of the power of stem cell donation. You can make a life-saving difference just like Lorna. Register to become a hero in waiting for people living with blood cancers and blood disorders.