Izaack Powell, a former Australian football player, has successfully undergone a life-saving stem cell transplant and is now embarking on the path to recovery in the comfort of their own home.
Read his story below:
Izaack, who lives in Queensland Australia made his debut in the A-League at the age of 16 and had a promising career ahead of him. However, his life took a drastic turn in June 2021 when he was first diagnosed with an acute form of leukaemia…
Izaack now 21 years of age, received devastating news when he found out he had Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) (a blood cancer that affects the bone marrow, where blood cells are produced). Izaack never doubted that he would play football again.
After spending 19 months out of the football world undergoing extensive treatment which is designed to kill the cancer cells in his body and prevent them from spreading further, he says, “Throughout the course of my treatment so far, I’ve needed multiple transfusions of not only blood, but also other blood products such as platelets and plasma.”
Powell was given the all clear in December 2022 and made a triumphant return to the field joining a new team Power Peninsula Football Club missing only one game in the entire season. Unfortunately, after a recent check-up, Izaack found out that the leukaemia has returned.
Although he feels healthy right now, he will need a stem cell (bone marrow) transplant as a long-term solution to cure the cancer.
The news sent shockwaves with many rallying to support Izaack, for a second time.
A campaign has been launched to find a matching donor, urging people to register as bone marrow donors. Those aged 18-35 are being urged to join the Australian bone marrow donor register (ABMDR), to possibly help him and others in a similar position.
If you’d like to help Izaack by becoming a bone marrow donor, and you do not live in Australia please visit the World Marrow Donor Register WMDA
If you are in the UK and would like to help Izaack find his match and help others like him, please visit the below two stem cell registers in the UK to sign up:
Anthony Nolan: if you are aged between 16 and 30 you can join this register by providing cheek swabs.
DKMS: if you are aged between 17 and 55 you can join this register by providing cheek swabs.
To read about how to donate stem cells if you match Izaack or anyone else, please CLICK HERE.
