Dean's Campaign for Donors

Dad of two Dean signed up to the stem cell donor register as a teenager whilst at military college, and was shortlisted twice as a possible donor – even if he wasn’t finally asked to donate, he was ready and willing to step up. An outdoors fan and now an Army Officer, Dean never thought he’d need a transplant himself, but whilst out running last year he began to notice he was feeling unwell and dizzy.

His wife Nicole – who is also on the stem cell door register – had to nag him to see a doctor. Within 12 hours of having a blood test, he got a call saying he needed to go straight to A&E. Things escalated very quickly from there – Dean was in and out of hospital for blood tests and biopsies until his diagnosis in January with aplastic anaemia.

As Dean began to receive treatment, Dean and Nicole’s usually active social life with friends, relatives and their young children aged two and five, shrank greatly due to infection control. But they’ve stayed strong. For example, whenever their daughter meets new people now, she always introduces herself and then says ‘my daddy has aplastic anaemia’. She’s also told her parents that she wants to be a doctor so she can help other people who are unwell with it.

Thankfully, possible matches for Dean have been identified – news he wants for other people with blood cancers and disorders. He and Nicole are calling on people to find out for themselves what stem cell donation involves – and how simple a process it is today, thanks to advances in medical technology.

“I’m so grateful to anyone who signs up,” says Dean. “Until you are in the situation yourself or you know someone who needs a donor – maybe a wife, a mother, a brother or a daughter – you can’t really fully appreciate what it means that there are people willing to donate. To know people are even ready to overcome their own fears of needles or hospitals to save someone’s life – it’s a truly selfless act.”

Are you aged 17–55 and in good health? Click the 'Become a donor' button to join the stem cell donor register today.