Chorley stem cell donor who saved a stranger’s life urges others to join the register

A Chorley man who saved a stranger’s life by donating stem cells, and is calling on others to sign up to do the same.

Alex Christopher from Chorley joined the stem cell donor register in 2018, after his friend and colleague, Pete McCleave, was diagnosed with blood cancer. Pete was told that he needed a stem cell transplant to save his life, and unfortunately, no one in his family was a match.

Alex completed a cheek swab and joined the DKMS stem cell donor register. He wasn’t a match for Pete, but just a few months later, he received an extraordinary call. There was an anonymous patient who was incredibly ill and in urgent need of a stem cell transplant. Alex was a complete stranger, but he had been identified as the sole stem cell donor match – he was the only person who could give this patient a second chance at life.

“It was a huge shock when I got the call, at the time, I didn’t truly understand the seriousness of his condition. I’d never even had an operation before, but it was so easy, I would do it again in a heartbeat,” Alex says.

He selflessly agreed to donate his stem cells through an outpatient procedure called PBSC, which is similar to donating blood platelets. 

Strict anonymity rules meant that for two years, Alex had limited information about the person who had received his stem cells, but eventually, he received an email which read: ‘Hello, you saved my life. Thank you.' It was from Patrick Languzzi, a father in his 50s, from Boston in the USA.

Patrick had been diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer called acute myeloid leukaemia, and his doctors said his chances of survival were around 3%. Alex’s donation had been life or death for Patrick, who got to attend his son’s graduation against the odds. The two men have become close friends, and in 2022, Patrick flew 3,000 miles so that they could meet for the first time.

“Reading those words from Patrick changed my life. I actually cried when I first read it.” Alex says. “From that day on, I have considered him a part of my family. Being given the opportunity to save another person’s life is such a huge privilege, and I want as many people as possible to be able to do the same.

‘’Joining the donor register is as easy as a quick mouth swab, but for someone else, it could mean another chance at life.”

Alex’s friend Pete is still searching for his match. However, he has become a dedicated campaigner encouraging people to join the donor register, and is now the UK Country Manager of blood cancer charity, DKMS.

Deborah Hyde, Communications Manager at DKMS says, “Alex’s story of giving a stranger a second chance at life shows just how life-changing it can be to join the stem cell donor register. By signing up as a donor, you could give hope to patients all over the world who are relying on the register for a second chance at life.

‘’Signing up is a quick and easy process involving some painless mouth swabs: if you are aged 17-55 and in general good health, you're eligible to join the register with DKMS”.

Alex is now calling on more people to join the stem cell donor register, to help Pete, and other patients like him around the world. He is organising a registration event this weekend in Chorley, where people can come and complete a cheek swab to join the register:

Details

Location: David Lloyd, Moss Ln, Whittle-le-Woods, Chorley PR6 8AB, United Kingdom

Date: Saturday 19th April

Time: 9am – 2pm

Joining the DKMS stem cell register is a quick process involving a simple mouth swab, which can even be completed at home. Anyone aged 17 – 55 years who is in general good health can register to receive a mouth swab kit online at: www.dkms.org.uk/register