News
Family in bone marrow donor bid to save life of mother stricken by leukemia
February 10, 2017 12:09
By, Lianne Kolirin
1 min read
By Lianne Kolirin , Lianne Kolirin
A pregnant woman has launched an appeal for bone marrow donors, in a bid to save her mother’s life.
Emma Norman and her family have started a social media campaign to find a donor for her mother, Sipora Howard, who was recently diagnosed with myeloid leukemia.
Mrs Howard, who lives in Kenton, north-west London, with her husband Eli, will soon embark on a second round of chemotherapy.
Her daughter is now appealing to members of the Sephardi community — who are most likely to be a match — to register at a series of sessions being held at London synagogues.
Mrs Norman has launched a Facebook group called Saving Sipy, on which she said: “If you are a match you could save someone’s life. Please, please come down and get tested. We are desperate to save our mum and we need your help.”
Mrs Howard, 65, was born in Ethiopia, but is of Adeni heritage. Doctors have told the family that siblings are most likely to prove a match, but so far five of her six siblings have tested negative. The sixth flew in from his home in Ethiopia this week for the examination, but the results will take two weeks to come through.
Two of Mrs Howard’s three daughters, Sammy and Jolene, have also proved negative.
Mrs Norman, whose pregnancy prevents her from being a donor, said: “If my mother doesn’t get a transplant there’s nothing they can do for her. She has to have it or I believe she will not make it.”
Mrs Howard said she was “feeling positive” about the future.
“I feel it’s going to be good somehow and people have been very supportive,” said the grandmother-of-two.
She described the efforts of her daughters as “unbelievable”, adding “but I raised them that way, didn’t I? We are a very close family, so I’m blessed.”
For details of how to register as a donor, visit www.facebook.com/savingsipy or www.dkms.org.uk
