A 27-year-old woman is getting her life back on track after a lifesaving bone marrow transplant cured a blood disorder that she had for over 20 years.
Nichola Burgess was in the unusual position of being able to choose whether she had a bone marrow transplant, which is a serious procedure involving pre-transplant conditioning and weeks in isolation.
Newly engaged Nichola is celebrating her recovery by running the “Marrowthon” on 9th March and fundraising for us, the charity that played a vital part in saving her life.
The challenge will take place in Regents Park, which is a meaningful location for Nichola as it was the first place that she went after leaving seven weeks in isolation at UCLH following her transplant. She remembers the day in Regents Park as ‘beautiful’ and ‘my first step to recovery’.
Nichola, from Leigh-on-Sea, was diagnosed with Severe Congenital Neutropenia, a rare blood disorder when she was just three years old.
Throughout her young life, Nichola was susceptible to infections and had to have daily injections to boost her immune system.
In 2010, Nichola’s annual bone marrow biopsy showed that there were cell changes which meant that she was at high risk of developing acute myeloid leukaemia.
Her doctors advised that her best course of action was to have a bone marrow transplant while she was fit and healthy, which would help increase success rates and her speed of recovery.
Nichola says, ‘I was told that it was my choice whether or not to go ahead with the bone marrow transplant at that point.
'It was an extremely hard decision to make at first as I was a young ambitious girl, who had recently graduated from University and was enjoying life.
'I knew that there were risks with a bone marrow transplant – there can be very serious complications and can be life threatening.
'However, the more I thought about it and with the support of my amazing family and friends, I realised I couldn’t just sit there and wait to develop leukaemia.
'I almost felt like my body was a time bomb ready to go off, and I knew prevention would be better than cure.’
Nichola had a bone marrow transplant in July 2011 after we found a matching donor for her.
Now almost three years after her transplant, Nichola is getting her life back on track.
She returned to her full time employment after a year of recovering and bought her first home with her partner of 11 years, Ross Williams, who she is set to marry in December.
Nichola says, ‘Being in isolation was one of the hardest parts of my transplant, as I love socialising and being active.
'On my first day out of isolation, my dad took me for a walk and we ended up in Regents Park.
'It was a beautiful day and I knew it was my first step towards recovery. I now have a healthy life ahead of me, and I am so grateful.
'When I saw that the Marrowthon event was in Regents Park, I just had to sign up.
'Being involved in a 5k Marrowthon run around the exact same park in March is just amazing and, for me, it is really going to be a testament to how far I have come.
'I want to give hope to other people who are going through a transplant and - the key to recovery is to have faith and stay positive.’
Keri Wyatt, Events Manager, said ‘It is incredible that Nichola is taking on the Marrowthon just two years after her bone marrow transplant.
'The money that Nichola raises will help us recruit more people to the donor register and enable us to save the lives of future patients in need of a bone marrow transplant.
'We are really looking forward to seeing Nichola take the next step in her recovery and cheering her across the finish line!’
Sponsor Nichola at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Nikkinoos
Find out more about taking on a fundraising event for Anthony Nolan here.