Wednesday 24 February 2010

Wirral woman loses battle with leukaemia after launching appeal for bone marrow donors



A WOMAN from Wallasey who launched an appeal to find a bone marrow donor after being diagnosed with leukaemia has died.

Jenny Wilkinson, 44, worked in Wirral council's finance department and was diagnosed in May last year.

She had been receiving treatment and in January appealed to the Chinese community to help find a suitable match for a bone marrow transplant.

Unfortunately, shortly after launching her appeal, she developed complications that led to pneumonia and passed away in the early hours of February 16, leaving her devoted husband Rob.

Because Jenny's parents were Chinese, she had been told that her best chance of a finding a match was with from someone with similar Chinese parentage.

But she was shocked to find that her odds of finding a donor were seriously affected by a shortage of donors from the Chinese community.

Her appeal attracted attention from the media and from local multi-cultural organisations and community leaders, who helped Jenny spread her appeal for a bone marrow donor to the local Chinese community, and abroad.

Jenny’s husband Rob said: "We were both tremendously grateful and touched by all the offers of help, and would like to thank everyone for their good wishes, and their help in circulating and publicising the appeal.

"It is so sad that for us, the outcome wasn't a good one, but Jenny would have wanted the appeal to continue in her name.

"I would urge anyone who is interested in saving a life to contact the Anthony Nolan Trust for more information.

"Bone marrow donation is simple and in most cases, painless.

In Jenny's words: "Please could you forward this appeal to anyone you know that would be interested in helping."

Story via the Wirral Globe. http://www.wirralglobe.co.uk

Consider your appeal forwarded Jenny. Your request will be heard.

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