A young man from Leeds has given a stranger across the Atlantic a second chance at life through a remarkable act of generosity. Matt Wilkinson, 24, donated his stem cells to a critically ill patient in the United States after being identified as a perfect match.
A Simple Swab That Led to a Lifesaving Call
Matt first joined the stem cell register in 2019 as a student, when the blood cancer charity DKMS visited his university halls. The process involved just a few health questions and some painless mouth swabs. "I was very happy to sign up," Matt recalled. "They mentioned that young men often make the best stem cell donors but are the least likely to join the register, so I thought it was important."
Years later, he had largely forgotten about his registration. Therefore, it was a profound shock when he received a call informing him he was a match for a patient undergoing treatment. For those with blood cancer or other disorders, a transplant from a matching donor can be their only hope for recovery. Shockingly, just seven per cent of the eligible UK population are on the register.
The Donation Journey: From Leeds to Manchester and Beyond
Once matched, things moved quickly. Matt discovered his donation would use a process called Peripheral Blood Stem Cell (PBSC) collection, a straightforward outpatient procedure similar to donating blood platelets. This method accounts for nine out of ten stem cell donations.
"I didn't really have any reservations," said Matt. "I know I'm lucky to be fit and healthy, so I was just glad that I was able to help someone." After a week of simple self-injections, he travelled to Manchester to donate. The procedure was completed in a single day, with his sister, a nurse, there to support him. "The donation itself was actually really easy," he said.
His stem cells were immediately flown to the USA for the recipient, a woman aged between 50 and 70. While anonymity rules prevent contact for at least two years, Matt hopes to one day meet her. "She could be a similar age to my parents," he reflected, "so I had been thinking about how I'd want someone to donate if my mum was in that position."
Urging More People to Join the Register
Now, Matt is working with DKMS to encourage others, particularly young men, to sign up. "I've been telling as many people as I can," he stated. "More people should know how important it is to sign up, and how easy it is. I'd 100 per cent do it again."
DKMS spokesperson Bronagh Hughes praised Matt's actions: "Matt has done something truly amazing. Patients all over the world are waiting for their match, so signing up means that, like Matt, you could be the person to give someone a second chance at life."
Anyone aged 17-55 in general good health can join the register with a simple swab kit. To find out more or to order a kit, visit dkms.org.uk.
Key facts about blood cancer in the UK:
- Blood cancers are the third most common cause of cancer death.
- Nearly 13,000 people die from blood cancer every year.
- Around 2,000 people in the UK are in need of a stem cell transplant at any one time.
