Kerry, from Johannesburg, is a regular blood donor and went beyond her norm when she signed up as a bone marrow stem cell donor in 2020 during a campaign for a little girl who desperately needed a stem cell donation. She completed a form on the SABMR website, which only took a few minutes, and then a test kit, including a buccal swab to test her DNA, was delivered to her house and collected from her again. She describes the process as a very simple process with no inconvenience to her.
In 2022, a mere 2 years later she was called and told that she was a match for a patient needing a stem cell transplant. She says that she was flabbergasted when she received the call and remembers asking for the statement ″You’re a match” to be repeated. However, it quickly changed to a feeling of awe that she could help to save a life. She donated her stem cells in December 2022 without hesitation.
Now, more than 2 and a half years later she shares that her donation reinforced her belief that a simple act of kindness can go a long way, and, in this instance, it helped save a life. According to Kerry her donation did not have a negative impact on her health and SABMR monitors her health on a yearly basis, which gives her peace of mind. Furthermore, she fell pregnant in 2023 and gave birth to her beautiful daughter in 2024 without any complications.
One of the aspects of the donation journey that stands out for her and that she would like to share with her daughter is when she heard that her recipient is doing well, and how they, including their family members were very grateful for her donation. This made her realise that she did not only help the patient, but their loved ones too! * Contact between the donor and recipient in anonymous for three years after the donation and facilitated by SABMR. After three years the recipient can request to have contact with the donor. *
Kerry reiterates that a simple act of kindness and a short amount of your time could give someone a lifetime and keep a family whole. And, for all we know, you could be saving the person who goes on to discover the cure for cancer!