Help find a donor for Izzie - online drive for donors TODAY
9 February 2022
A former Federation member who donated stem cells three times to help save a child’s life is urging others to join the register so they can potentially help others.
Brian Carmichael, who has two children and two grandchildren, donated his stem cells in October 2017 and says it was the most “worthwhile thing” he has ever done and his proudest achievement.
He is now sharing his experience to encourage others to join the stem cell register.
The 54-year-old has backed a campaign to find a donor for Izzie, the daughter of two West Midlands Police officers, who is in desperate need of a transplant having been diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer.
“By doing the smallest thing, you could make the most significant difference,” says Brian, who retired in 2017, having served 30 years in the Force. He added: “You are literally giving someone out there a chance of life, it’s amazing.
“Ultimately, I was part of a team who made a huge difference to that child’s life and their family – and that fills me with so much pride. It is undoubtedly the most worthwhile thing I have ever done and the proudest achievement of my life.”
After donating, Brian says he received a card from the recipient. The card had a star on it and inside, it said in the child’s handwriting, “you are my star”.
“That card is one of the most precious items in my life,” Brian said. “When I saw it was handwritten by the child I had helped, I was like wow, oh my goodness, I’ve made such a difference. It really is a beautiful thing.”
Brian initially joined the donor register following an appeal in the Midlands, which specifically encouraged members of ethnic communities to join.
“I thought I would go and do my bit by signing onto the register but then you kind of just forget about it until you get contacted again. Then I was on holiday in 2017 year when Anthony Nolan reached out to me, telling me my stem cells were needed,” explained Brian.
Anthony Nolan is a national charity which aims to save the lives of people with blood cancer and blood disorders.
“Donating was definitely a monumental event in my life,” Brian added. “Me and my family like to joke that because a little part of my DNA has gone into that person, they will be dancing every time Barry White comes on, and love chicken just like me.”
Brian says the donation procedure itself is seamless. He said: “After I’d donated the first time, they contacted me to see if I could give a second and a third time. I was honoured, I would give as much they wanted to take, if that little person needed it. That person needed me.”
While Brian does not know much about the recipient of his stem cells, he does know they are American and under 10-years-old.
“Being a parent, a grandparent, well, that brings it all home, doesn’t it? After all, this could happen to any of us. And you don’t have to be a parent, any relative could need a donor at some point during their life,” said Brian.
“And really, donating is nothing compared to what these families are going through.”
Recently, the family who Brian helped contacted Anthony Nolan to see if they could meet their donor.
“As they live in America, we’re hoping for a meeting over Zoom soon and I know it will be emotional for everyone. And I’m not looking for thanks from them, I just want to see their smiles – and the smile of the person I donated too. For me, that’s enough.”
Brian is hoping that by sharing his experience, it will encourage other people to join the stem cell register. His story follows an appeal made by Sally Olsen, a detective sergeant, who is desperately searching to find a donor for her 13-year-old daughter, Izzie.
Izzie was diagnosed with two rare forms of blood cancer last year and the best solution to help her would be to find a perfect donor.
There are two different ways a person can donate stem cells, either peripheral stem cell donation or bone marrow donation. Izzie needs to receive stem cell donation, which takes around five hours for the donor and is very similar to somebody giving blood.
Depending on your age, you can register to donate with Anthony Nolan (if you are aged between 16 and 30) or DKMS (if you are over 30 and up until 60, as long as you meet other specific criteria). Both organisations match donors and patients across the world.
A virtual online donor drive has been organised and is taking place today (Wednesday 9 February), which can be accessed on the Force’s intranet.
There will also be an in-person drive at Lloyd House on 2 and 9 March, from 10am until 4pm.
