I've been diagnosed with a rare and life-threatening blood disorder - and you could help save my life

A Preston woman with a rare and life-threatening blood disorder is asking the public for help.

Rafiya Sherin, 30, and her husband Fawas had their world turned outside down just weeks ago when she was diagnosed with an extremely rare, life-threatening blood disorder - then came the double kicker when her medical team said that her best hope for a second chance at life is a stem cell transplant.

Feeling ill after returning from a trip to Egypt, Rafiya was shocked to hear that her blood levels were dangerously low when she arrived at hospital. Her bone marrow had failed completely and wasn’t producing any new blood cells.

She had an emergency blood transfusion that same day and underwent lots of tests at Royal Preston Hospital.

10 days later it was confirmed that she had severe aplastic anaemia - an exceptionally rare, life-threatening disorder in which the bone marrow can’t produce enough new blood cells. She was later referred to Manchester Royal Infirmary, and is now reliant on regular blood transfusions, going to the clinic in Preston for monitoring multiple times a week.

Now, she and her family are urgently working with blood cancer charity DKMS UK to search for the stem cell donor who could give her – or others like her – a second chance at life.

They have organised a stem cell donor registration event and are encouraging the Preston community to come along and sign up to the stem cell donor register on Sunday, August 16, at Catherine Beckett Community Centre from 1pm - 6pm.

Anyone aged 16-55 and in general good health can sign up. If you’re not eligible, at the event you can find out about other ways too support DKMS’ mission to ensure everyone who needs a stem cell transplant has equal access to one.

Rafiya said: “It would mean the world to me and my family to see lots of people come along and register. For someone like me, and for so many others waiting for a stem cell donor, every new person who joins the register could be someone’s second chance at life.

“I honestly don’t think there’s an easier way to help save someone’s life than this. It costs nothing financially, and for most people it requires so little, yet it has the potential to give someone a second chance to live.

What happens when you register?

Once you are on the stem cell donor register, doctors worldwide can search to see if you are a match for a patient. This could be Rafiya or another patient searching for their donor.

At any one time, there are around 2,000 people in the UK waiting for their lifesaving match. Most people who join the stem cell donor register will never be called to donate, but if you are called to say you are a match for a patient, nine times out of 10 the donation can be completed through a simple, non-surgical procedure similar to donating blood platelets. DKMS supports donors every step of the way.

DKMS spokesperson Deborah Hyde said: “We’re so grateful to Rafiya and her family for their support in organising this stem cell donor registration event, raising awareness of stem cell donation, and encouraging people to join the donor register.

“We’d love to see the Preston community and beyond turn out in force to support her.”

Rafiya added: “Finding out about the register was a relief for me. I’m glad that it exists, and that people can join to find out if they can help me or someone else in my position.

“But I’m also glad that I can use my story to encourage people to sign up. It’s a scary diagnosis, but knowing that there is an easy, practical way that people can help, and that I can spread the word, has given me a sense of purpose during treatment.”

“Even if someone isn’t a match for me, they could go on to save another person and another family from going through what we’re facing.

“Seeing our community come together with such kindness and hope would mean more than words can say.”