A selfless act by a Lincolnshire NHS worker has given a retired American doctor a second chance at life, culminating in an emotional transatlantic meeting.
A Simple Decision with Lifesaving Consequences
Lucinda "Lucy" Ward, a 33-year-old from Sleaford, joined the stem cell donor register with charity DKMS while at university, thinking little of it at the time. Her motivation was straightforward. "I thought, if I can help someone in their time of need, through something that's of very minimal impact on my own life, why wouldn't I do that?" Lucy explains. She adds that if her own loved ones needed a transplant, she would hope someone else would be there to help.
Years later, after starting a family with her husband Tom and having her daughter India, Lucy was stunned to receive a call from DKMS. She was a potential match for a patient in need. "I'd completely forgotten about being on the register," she admits. After confirmatory tests at Sheffield's Royal Hallamshire Hospital, a donation date was set.
A Transatlantic Race Against Time
Across the ocean in New York State, retired doctor Harvey Gorrin was fighting acute myelogenous leukaemia. While drug treatment had been effective, his medical team advised that a stem cell transplant was crucial for long-term remission. Harvey's own children offered to donate, but like for roughly two-thirds of patients, no familial match was found. A global search through registries began.
Lucy's donation was straightforward. Nine out of ten donations are done via a simple outpatient procedure similar to giving blood platelets. Under strict anonymity rules, she only knew her cells were headed for an older man in the USA. For Lucy, the act was deeply personal, having lost her grandmother to lymphoma in 2020. "It was really meaningful, because we couldn't help her, but I could help someone else," she reflects.
Tears of Joy as Two Families Become One
Harvey's recovery began swiftly after the transplant. "Soon after the transplant, I started to feel better," he recalls, regaining strength through walks in the park and eventually returning to his Peloton bike. After the mandatory two-year period of anonymity ended in September 2025, DKMS facilitated full contact between the donor and recipient.
In late November, Harvey, his wife, daughter, and grandson flew to the UK. They met Lucy, Tom, and India for a Sunday lunch in Newark. "There were a lot of tears – just so many happy tears when we first met," Lucy remembers. The anticipated awkwardness never materialised. "It felt like meeting friends or family. It feels like we've got family on the other side of the world now."
Harvey's gratitude is boundless. "Lucy gave my grandchildren their grandfather. She gave my wife her husband, my children their father. Lucy gave me my life. I'm eternally grateful."
Deborah Hyde, a spokesperson for DKMS, emphasises the ongoing need. "Everyone who signs up as a potential stem cell donor joins a worldwide chain that offers hope to people waiting for a transplant. Lucinda and Harvey's story shows how simple it can be to make a difference: registering is quick, and the impact is profound. We urgently need more people to join the register."
Anyone aged 17 to 55 and in good health can register with DKMS via a quick, painless cheek swab at events or online at dkms.org.uk.
