Praise’s campaign has gotten the attention of the media worldwide.
As the world Marks the black history month there is an urgent need to increase the Black Asian and ethnic Minority (BAME) who represent only 13% of the 1.9 million donors on the registry today.
This limited number did not help Valerie and Praise have the best of Chance. Help bridge the gap by donating today and save a life.
We have extended the urgent spread of this word with DKMS, media organizations with interviews of Praise’s mum on Sky News, ITV, several radio stations and News outlets.
Watch Interview of mother on ITV news.
Adopted Press release:
“WE’VE BARELY HAD A MOMENT TO GRIEVE OUR MIDDLE DAUGHTER – NOW WE’RE PRAYING FOR OUR FOUR-YEAR-OLD TO SURVIVE”
Mum’s pleas for more potential blood stem cell donors to register this Black History Month
· very often someone in the in the world is diagnosed with a blood cancer, such as leukaemia, myeloma or lymphoma.
· In many cases, a blood stem cell donation is needed for survival.
· Praise, 4, was diagnosed with a blood disorder in 2016 and a blood stem cell transplant was her only chance of survival.
A mother has joined forces with blood cancer charity DKMS to urgently call for more people, especially those of a black, Asian and ethnic minority background to register as potential blood stem cell donors this Black History Month (1 October – 31 October).
In April, Blessing Olalemi, 39, originally from Barking & Dagenham in London but now lives in Newcastle Upon-Tyne, tragically lost her eight-year-old daughter, Valerie, to a rare hereditary immunodeficiency called chronic granulomatous disorder (CGD).
The condition prevents white blood cells, which help the body to fight infections, from working correctly and a blood stem cell transplant offers the best chance of survival. Unfortunately, a matching blood stem cell donor wasn’t found in time for Valerie and she lost her fight in April this year.
The fatal condition also affects Blessing’s four-year-old daughter, Praise, who was diagnosed at birth. Doctors told the family they would need to rely on a complete stranger to help give Praise the best shot at a second chance of life.
Praise’s Nigerian heritage means she has already had a reduced chance of finding a suitable donor. As patients from a black, Asian or other minority backgrounds have a 20% chance of finding the best possible stem cell donor match, compared to 69% from northern European backgrounds. A donor is identified through genetic matching and in the majority of cases will be someone of similarly ethnicity – however there has been cases where your genetic twin isn’t necessarily your ethnic twin.
Therefore, it is imperative to register more potential blood stem cell donors and especially help to diversify the aligned blood stem cell registry as currently, BAME donors represent 13% of the 1.9 million donors on the registry. You never know who you could be a match for!
Last month, Praise underwent a blood stem cell transplant at the Great North Children’s Hospital. Due to the lack of donors there wasn’t a ‘perfect’ match, so the transplant went ahead with the best possible match. Praise is currently recovering in hospital as it’s a crucial time to see if the transplant has been successful.
Blessing said: “With time running out we had to go with our best option and we’re grateful for that person for registering and doing such a selfless act. It’s been a heartbreaking situation to be in. We’ve barely had a moment to grieve our middle daughter and now we’re praying for our four-year-old Praise to survive.
“My husband, John, and I desperately want to encourage more people especially those from a BAME background to sign up as potential blood stem cell donors with DKMS. Hopefully, this will prevent others from falling into the same situation as our family. If we had more people on the register, Valerie might have found her match and still be here and Praise would have been matched with a stronger donor.
“Both my daughters underwent years of extensive treatments. The price you pay waiting for a match is a high one. Valerie paid with her life, whilst Praise has experienced deafness along with other complications and it’s still touch and go. I wouldn’t wish this on anyone, so whilst many of us focus on Black History Month, we’d like to take this opportunity to change the future narrative for black donors and those from the wider BAME community.”
So I would urge anyone that can register as a potential blood stem cell donor to please take action and go on standby to help save a life.”
We need many potential blood stem cell donors from all backgrounds. If you are aged between 17-55 and in good general health, you can show support for Praise and the other 2,000 people in need of a lifesaving transplant by registering online at www.dkms.org.uk/praise for your home swab kit. You’ll join over 680,000 lifesavers-in-waiting ready to make a difference and help give someone a second chance at life.
https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/national/18781367.grieving-mothers-plea-bame-stem-cell-donors/
https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/grieving-mums-plea-people-black-4588491
SAFE HAVEN A RAY OF HOPE VISIT TO HOPE ORPHANAGE HOME
Safe Haven-A Ray of Hope start the African tour by visiting the HOPE orphanage home where donations and support e.g., food, clothing, educational funding and other items are given to underprivileged children and children [...]
COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROJECT
Safe Haven-A Ray of Hope biannually organises a community outreach where donations and support e.g., food, clothing, educational funding, enhanced financial assistance (as each individual request vary and are unique) and other items are given [...]
AWARENESS CAMPAIGN PROJECT FOR AN INCREASE IN BAME DONORS
This project consists of 3 major goalsTo get more Black Asian and ethnic Minorities on the donor registryTo achieve free testing systems for volunteers willing to donate in Nigeria and other countries affected by this.Using [...]
BRIDGING EDUCATION GAPS
This project seeks to help bridge educational gaps and generally improve on the educational prospects of children on admission in hospitals for long periods of time and those discharged home, as well as underprivileged children [...]
ORPHANAGE SUPPORT OUTREACH
We support orphanage homes around the world by donating desperately needed supplies e.g., toys, clothing, food and groceries.We also give financial support for the erection of structures or required expansion, furnishing and facilities as well [...]
COUNSELLING SUPPORT
Safe Haven- A Ray of Hope offers counselling support to family members who play the role of primary care giver to children who suffer long term ailment. We understand that being a primary care giver to [...]
