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| Thornbury man facing final Christmas makes stem cell plea | Thornbury man facing final Christmas makes stem cell plea |
| (2 months later) | |
| Rob Hale's life was extended by 18 months after having stem cell treatment | Rob Hale's life was extended by 18 months after having stem cell treatment |
| Rob Hale's life was extended by 18 months after having stem cell treatment | Rob Hale's life was extended by 18 months after having stem cell treatment |
| A man preparing for his last Christmas after being diagnosed with leukaemia has urged people to join the life-saving stem cell register. | A man preparing for his last Christmas after being diagnosed with leukaemia has urged people to join the life-saving stem cell register. |
| Aerospace engineer Rob Hale was told he has just weeks to live. | Aerospace engineer Rob Hale was told he has just weeks to live. |
| The 33-year-old, from Thornbury in South Gloucestershire, initially thought he had long Covid but received the diagnoses last year. | The 33-year-old, from Thornbury in South Gloucestershire, initially thought he had long Covid but received the diagnoses last year. |
| Stem cell treatment gave him an extra 18 months of life and he now wants to encourage more people to donate. | Stem cell treatment gave him an extra 18 months of life and he now wants to encourage more people to donate. |
| Mr Hale said: "When I was diagnosed I was told I only had a couple of weeks left but thanks to the chemo and the initial transplant it's got me about 18 months. | Mr Hale said: "When I was diagnosed I was told I only had a couple of weeks left but thanks to the chemo and the initial transplant it's got me about 18 months. |
| "I've been told now I've got a matter of weeks or months left to live." | "I've been told now I've got a matter of weeks or months left to live." |
| The family are preparing to spend their last Christmas together | The family are preparing to spend their last Christmas together |
| The family are preparing to spend their last Christmas together | The family are preparing to spend their last Christmas together |
| Mr Hale caught Covid in February 2021. When his symptoms persisted, he assumed he had Long Covid. | Mr Hale caught Covid in February 2021. When his symptoms persisted, he assumed he had Long Covid. |
| "I was tired, not eating properly, couldn't stop sleeping, was cold all the time and I had memory problems," he said. | "I was tired, not eating properly, couldn't stop sleeping, was cold all the time and I had memory problems," he said. |
| Two months later, after visiting the doctors with a rash on his back, he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia. | Two months later, after visiting the doctors with a rash on his back, he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia. |
| He then went through three cycles of what he describes as "intense" chemotherapy and spent four months in hospital in Bristol. | He then went through three cycles of what he describes as "intense" chemotherapy and spent four months in hospital in Bristol. |
| A bone marrow transplant followed in the summer, when stem cells were taken from a healthy donor to effectively reboot his immune system. | A bone marrow transplant followed in the summer, when stem cells were taken from a healthy donor to effectively reboot his immune system. |
| There is currently a shortage of stem cell donors from all backgrounds and particularly ethnic minority groups. | There is currently a shortage of stem cell donors from all backgrounds and particularly ethnic minority groups. |
| "Without people signing up they don't stand a chance," Mr Hale said. | "Without people signing up they don't stand a chance," Mr Hale said. |
| Rob's mother Caron Hale has been by his side | Rob's mother Caron Hale has been by his side |
| Rob's mother Caron Hale has been by his side | Rob's mother Caron Hale has been by his side |
| His mother, Caron Hale, said: "I can't say how proud I am. I'm amazed that he wants to do this and he wants to help other people." | His mother, Caron Hale, said: "I can't say how proud I am. I'm amazed that he wants to do this and he wants to help other people." |
| Donating stem cells is minimally invasive for the donor, and starts off with a cheek swab. | Donating stem cells is minimally invasive for the donor, and starts off with a cheek swab. |
| When a match is found, the donor will have a few injections and will undergo a process similar to giving blood. | When a match is found, the donor will have a few injections and will undergo a process similar to giving blood. |
| "You might not be saving lives but you can buy someone like me 18 months or a year," Mr Hale said. | "You might not be saving lives but you can buy someone like me 18 months or a year," Mr Hale said. |
| "You're giving someone a chance, not just at life but having a little bit of time with their families." | "You're giving someone a chance, not just at life but having a little bit of time with their families." |
| Follow BBC West on Facebook, external, Twitter, external and Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to: bristol@bbc.co.uk | Follow BBC West on Facebook, external, Twitter, external and Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to: bristol@bbc.co.uk |
| Related topics | |
| Leukaemia | Leukaemia |
| Bristol | Bristol |
| Stem cells | Stem cells |
| Gloucestershire | Gloucestershire |
| Bristol | Bristol |