Brora woman battles illness that killed her brother
A YOUNG Sutherland nurse is battling the same illness that killed her brother eight years ago.
Michaela Ballantyne, of Uppat Place, Brora, has been diagnosed with a rare blood disorder from which her brother, Mark, died aged just 18 in March 2007.
The 25-year-old will need a bone- marrow transplant and has launched a Facebook appeal for bone marrow donors to come forward.
Registration clinics for the Anthony Nolan Trust, the charity that matches donors with people needing transplants, are to be held in Dornoch, Golspie and Brora next month.
Michaela, who lives with her partner Tom Hughes, a joiner, is determined she will regain her health. She vowed: “This illness took my brother. I will not let it take both of us.”
Her parents, Karen and Stephen MacLeod, from Golspie, said the family were devastated. The couple have two other children, Martin (30) and Mea (12).
Karen said: “We are beyond shattered to be going through the same nightmare for a second time.
“This is a rare condition normally seen in older people and doctors have told us it is not genetic. For two of our children to be diagnosed with it is just too cruel.”
Mark was 14 when the family were told he had myelodysplasia, also known as myelodysplastic syndrome or MDS.
The illness is mainly seen in the over 65s and affects the bone marrow’s ability to produce vital red and white blood cells and platelets which fight infection, carry oxygen around the body and help blood to clot.
Mark was given chemotherapy and two bone-marrow transplants over a three-and-a-half year period but sadly succumbed to the illness.
Karen said that while Mark was receiving treatment Michaela learned that she had a compromised immune system, the reason for which was not clear. But aside from taking longer to shake off common illnesses such as colds, this did not unduly affect her.
But Michaela, who graduated with a nursing degree from Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen last year and has been working at Seaforth House Resource Centre for the elderly in Golspie, fell ill in April with a fungal infection, microbacterial avium, which settled in her lungs and which she has been unable to overcome.
She spent six weeks in isolation at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness and after carrying out tests doctors told her she had myelodysplasia.
Karen said: “The medical experts are just as shocked as us – they do not know why two members of the same family have been affected.”
A brave Michaela is now receiving weekly blood transfusions at Raigmore and has been told she will need a course of chemotherapy leading up to a bone-marrow transplant.
If a bone-marrow donor is found the treatment will take place at the Beatson Cancer Centre in Glasgow.
Michaela has set up a Facebook appeal for people to register as bone-marrow donors with the Anthony Nolan Trust
She writes on the page: “So tell me, do you want to be a life-saver? Or know anyone that does? Then please sign up and be a hero today.”
Karen said: “Michaela is very positive which is helping us.”
Under the auspices of the trust Karen has organised registration clinics at Dornoch Free Church on Wednesday, 2nd September from 3pm-8.30pm; the Caberfeidh Hotel, Golspie, 9th September, 3pm-8.30pm; and Brora Primary School on 16th September, 4pm-8.30pm. Arrangements are also under way to hold a clinic in Inverness on 22nd September.
The charity does not have an office in Scotland but representatives will be present at the clinics.
Donating bone marrow is now a much simpler and less painful procedure than when Mark underwent his transplants.
At registration, donors are asked to spit in a tube rather than give a blood specimen. The stem-cell donation is similar to giving blood.
Amy Bartlett, regional register development manager at Anthony Nolan, said: “We are very sorry to hear what Michaela and her family are going through at this time. It is truly inspiring, however, that despite going through a very tough time, the family are selflessly campaigning to find a match for Michaela and everyone who needs a transplant, by encouraging more young people to sign up to our register.
“What many people don’t realise is just how simple it is to be a donor. Registering simply involves filling out a form and providing a saliva sample and if you are found to be a match for someone like Michaela, the donation procedure is usually similar to giving blood.”
* To join the register, you must be aged between 16 and 30 and be in general good health. For more information or to sign up online visit www.anthonynolan.org
