Transplant changes Llanrwst woman's life

Feb 8 2010 by David Powell, Daily Post

A GRAN last night blessed the bone marrow transplant that’s allowed her to watch her grandchildren grew up.

Doctors warned Katherine Alderton she could have died within weeks if a donor wasn’t found.

Family were ruled out as possible donors but a perfect match was made with a man whose identity has been kept secret.

But the 57-year-old from Llanrwst hopes one day she’ll be allowed to meet the donor who saved her life.

She underwent the transplant in September, and now she’s urging others to join the Anthony Nolan bone marrow transplant register.

Katherine also needed a second transplant of white cells, a student nurse – the daughter of a friend – Catherine Evans, of Llanrwst stepped forward to donate.

She said “Every day I take stock of my new life and am so thankful to be alive.”

Katherine needed immuno-suppressive therapy, as part of her treatment, in Ysbyty Gwynedd’s Alaw Ward in Bangor last March and so was unable to attend the births of her two grandchildren – 10 days apart – at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, Bodelwyddan.

Katherine’s daughter Siân gave birth to Erin Mai, while son John became a dad when Aimee Rose came into the world.

Now Katherine is looking forward to their first birthdays next month.

In 2008 she was admitted to Walton Hospital in Liverpool for an 11 hour operation on a thoracic slipped disc.

After the operation, doctors discovered she had severe aplastic anemia or ‘bone marrow failure.’

She was transferred straight to Ysbyty Gwynedd for twice-weekly transfusions of red cells and platelets.

Last September, she was put under the care of specialist Professor David Marks, based at Bristol’s Royal Hospital for Children, where she underwent a week of chemotherapy.

A week later she had the lifesaving op at the hospital’s Bone Marrow Transplant Unit.

Her brother, who lives in Hong Kong, was tested but had not been a match.

She says the hospital searched the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust instead and found a suitable donor.

“I was really lucky,” says Katherine.

Professor Marks told her it was either a bone marrow transplant or she would not survive any serious infections.

She said: “I would only have survived a few weeks or months. It was really frightening.”

Throughout her ordeal, Katherine’s husband, Paul, a postman, has supported her.

“I could not have managed without him. He had to have time off work for four months to look after me. He’s my rock.”

“It has been absolutely fantastic since the operation. I am feeling better every day. The doctors at Ysbyty Gwynedd and the Royal Hospital, Bristol, were amazed the transplant was so successful.”

She added: “I did catch a nasty virus as Christmas but I got over it in a fortnight. My blood counts were not affected.”

Katherine would dearly love to thank her lifesaving donor in person, though hospital bosses insist a set amount of time must pass before donors and patients make contact.

She said: “It would be absolutely lovely to meet him.”

Katherine added: “I would like to thank all the wonderful doctors and nurses at Ysbyty Gwynedd Alaw Ward and to Professor David Marks and his team at the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, Bristol and, of course, to my donor to whom I owe my life.”