I took the above photo 13 years ago today, as Vicki was busy packing a bag, preparing for a hospital stay.
For me, Monday 7th October 2013 is a day I’ll never forget. What happened that day changed my life, forever: my daughter was diagnosed with blood cancer.
During the early hours of the following morning, Margot was admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit at Great Ormond Street Hospital in a perilous condition.
Margot’s platelet count was just 16 – extremely low – a normal reading might be expected to fall within the 150-400 range. As such, the medical team were concerned that she might not form a clot; and from a practical perspective, that would mean that they couldn’t “work” on her.
So the first, immediate step of the rescue plan was for Margot to have a platelet transfusion, to try and stabilise her clotting function and an urgent request was made for platelets.
And because Margot’s blood was completely riddled with leukaemic blasts, an exchange transfusion was proposed, which involves flushing out all the patient’s blood with fresh red blood cells.
For these platelet and red cell transfusions to occur, Margot was heavily sedated and medically paralysed. The proposal was to keep her under general anaesthetic for several hours, until the transfusions were complete. In the event, Margot remained in a coma for a week.
This was at best a temporary rescue mission, not a permanent fix.
In all the commotion, I recall asking the nurse whether they had the right type of blood and platelets in stock – she confirmed that they did, but she mentioned that this wasn’t always the case.
As the platelets and red blood cells arrived and were in turn administered, I felt very fortunate & enormously grateful to all those anonymous donors who had unwittingly helped save my daughter’s life. I was in a state of shock, but also in awe – it was humbling to think that people had selflessly donated blood and platelets, for moments just like this.
They gave Margot a second chance at life. And they gave Vicki and I much needed hope.
Almost immediately thereafter, I felt completely and utterly ashamed. Because, I hadn’t ever given blood.
Our family are unspeakably grateful to all blood and platelet donors – and also to all bone marrow donors – for their miraculous gifts.
They gave all of us more time with Margot, and they gave Margot extra time with her family & loved ones.
Team Margot Donor Registration Day is a call to action for those who haven’t already registered as a donor.
It’s also a celebration of donors of blood, organs & stem cells.
If you can:
- Join a stem cell / bone marrow register (UK: start at https://www.teammargot.com/how-to-register/).
- Give blood, if you’re able (www.blood.co.uk).
- Record your organ donation decision and tell your family (www.organdonation.nhs.uk).
Please share this day with one more person who hasn’t registered yet.
Thank you.
Team Margot
Together, saving lives