In March 2006, Real Estate Agent, 45 years old, Natasha Osunde attended an ACLT (African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust) stem cell donor registration drive after she heard it being discussed on Choice FM (now Capital Xtra) radio station.
ACLT were to host the drive at the Choice FM HQ in Leicester Square, in support of a patient living with blood cancer who was of mixed-race heritage.
Natasha says:
“Hearing the radio presenter talk about the young child’s blood cancer diagnosis and how his life could be saved by people from the Black and mixed-race community stopped me in my tracks. The request was for the community to attend the donor registration drive at Leicester Square get educated on the importance of registering, understand the donation process and then make an informed decision to join the register or not. All the registrants needed to do on the day was to provide a saliva sample (nowadays things are simple, and you just need to provide a cheek swab), it was a no-brainer for me.”
It was explained to Natasha at the time, should she be found to be a match for the child in question or for a patient in the future, she would be called via ACLT partners Anthony Nolan (the charity that manages the UK Stem Cell Register alongside NHS Blood and Transplant), to donate her stem cells to help save the life of the individual in need.
Natasha added:
“I vividly remember being made to feel very relaxed about the process when it was explained to me. At no point was I concerned. In fact, I was (and always have been) hopeful that I would receive a call to say I could become a stem cell donor.
There was such a wonderful buzz at the registration drive, I expect I didn’t take much in at the time, but I was mindful of what I was signing up for and how it could potentially help save a stranger’s life.”
In August 2021, 15 years later, Natasha received the call. She was informed she was a match for someone living with blood cancer and asked whether she would be happy to move forward to become a lifesaving stem cell donor.
Natasha said:
“Receiving the call, I felt completely honoured. The fact that my body, which I’ve probably not looked after as well as I should, was able to help another person survive potentially was and still is an incredible feeling.”
Natasha went on to donate her stem cells on 17th November 2021. When reflecting on her experience, Natasha says:
“Physically I felt quite tired, and equally emotionally energised at the same time. The tiredness disappeared within a few days, but the sense of purpose has never faded. If more people were aware of how easy, how painless, and actually, how enjoyable the experience is, I truly think the registered number of donors would increase dramatically.
From the first phone call letting me know I could be a donor, to the nurse teaching me how to administer PBSC, the health check, donating, to the follow-up calls post-donation. I honestly couldn’t fault the process. At every step I was kept fully informed of what was happening, reassured by the most amazing nurses, and looked after with the utmost care. I would happily do it again tomorrow!
I hope sharing my experience encourages others from the Black and mixed-race community to support charities like ACLT and join the UK Stem Cell Register.”
