Cancer-stricken mum appeals for donors

A MOTHER-of-two who is currently in hospital receiving treatment for leukaemia has urged local people to donate both blood and stem cells so that researchers can find a cure for the condition.

Tracy McKenna (35), who is a teacher at Denamona Primary School in Fintona, was first diagnosed last May. She spent the majority of the rest of 2023 in hospital going through four separate rounds of intensive chemotherapy.

She finished her treatment in early December, but, devastatingly, in early January the leukaemia had returned. She has spent the past five weeks in hospital going through more intensive chemotherapy for the cancer.

Her sister Louise told the UlsterHerald it has been a “very difficult period” for the family.

Louise said, “She remains in the hospital getting daily blood and platelet transfusions and we are so thankful for those of you who have become blood donors. It isn’t until someone you know has been affected like this that can you comprehend the importance of giving blood to help save lives.”

Previously, the family had been massively impacted by cancer when their father, Alan, died from Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2020. Another sister, Diane, has also successfully battled breast cancer twice.

Tracy was first diagnosed with the condition after she became unwell in April of last year, feeling tired and getting headaches, fatigue and bleeding.

Doctors initially believed it was a case of severe anaemia. However, after her condition worsened, Tracy was transferred to the City Hospital in Belfast where she was confirmed to have leukaemia.

Currently, she has no 100 per-cent match after her family members were deemed unsuitable to donate bone marrow. She is currently waiting for a successful stem cell match and will be given a bone marrow transplant in a hospital in England if her chemotherapy is successful.

Louise said that she would appeal to anyone out there to donate blood and stem cells so they can find a match for her sister.

Meanwhile, Tracy would like to thank the principal of Denamona Primary School, Janet Burke, for raising awareness for blood and stem cell donations. The school has asked for prayers that a donor can be found.

There are three main ways to become a stem cell donor in the UK: Anthony Nolan charity is for those aged 16-30 years; the British Bone Marrow Register is for males aged 17-40; while DKMS is for anyone aged 17-55 years.

For more information on donating stem cells, you can visit the websites for each of these charities.