KINDHEARTED Andrew Gibson is giving somebody the gift of life, after being inspired by a workmate’s little boy.

Andrew, 29, from Southend, signed up to the bone marrow transplant register after hearing about 21-month-old Jack Kleinberg.

Jack, of St James Gardens, Westcliff, is facing the second bone marrow transplant in his short life to help him beat two life-threatening conditions.

His parents are hoping the op will fight the effects of Wiskott Aldrich syndrome and familial Mediterranean fever.

After hearing Jack’s story, from Jack’s mum, Vicki Parrott, a workmate at the Hood Group’s Southend insurance office, Andrew donated stem cells for use by an un-named patient in need.

Andrew was disappointed to learn he wouldn’t be a match for Jack, but decided to go ahead all the same – and Ms Parrott is delighted her son's example is helping others in need.

She said: “At the office Christmas party, I found out Andrew, who had joined the Anthony Nolan bone marrow register when Jack first got ill, was recently called up as a match. He donated his stem cells a month ago to a stranger.

“I couldn't believe it. I was so emotional and hugged him loads. I don’t know if we’ll ever meet Jack’s donor, so this is the closest thing we’ve had.

“It’s overwhelming to think there’s someone out there who’s had a second chance at life because of Jack’s story. It’smade my year.”

Andrew said: “There was an email going around at work, urging people to sign up to the Anthony Nolan register, as a way of showing our support for Vicki and her son Jack, who had just been diagnosed. I’d never heard of Anthony Nolan before, but I didn’t hesitate. Seeing Vicki at the Christmas party really made it sink in what I’d done. It was an emotional moment and it was clear how much it meant to her.

“My doctor told me only a very small minority of people on the register ever get called up to donate, so the chances of Vicki actually knowing someone who signed up because of her appeal was a match for someone are really small.”

Andrew donated his stem cells at the London Clinic via peripheral blood stem cell collection, a four-hour outpatient procedure similar to giving blood.

He said: “It was such an easy process and not at all painful or uncomfortable. It’s strange to think something so simple could achieve something so big.

“I’ve got a three-month-old daughter, Chloe, myself, so it really hit home how important this could be for other families.”

If you’re aged between 16 and 30 and in good health, sign up to the Anthony Nolan register by visiting anthonynolan.org

 

A GAME IN JACK'S NAME

SOUTHEND Rugby Club is staging a special game on Saturday to raise funds in Jack’s name.

It will be at the club’s ground, Warners Bridge Park, in Sumpters Way, Southend, from 2pm, with proceeds going to Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital, the Anthony Nolan Trust, Neptune ward at Southend Hospital and homeless charity Harp.