My name is Yvette and I am 14 years old. Until the beginning of 2004 I was an ordinary 10 year old. I went to school, played with my friends and did most of the things that 10 year olds do. Life was great. I was looking forward to finishing primary school and going up to secondary school 1ater that year.

Then I became ill. I started getting tired - very tired. What was happening to me. My lips and gums bled sometimes and I just kept on getting tired. My mum took me to the doctor. After a blood test I was called and told to go to the hospital as soon as possible. I was admitted and had lots of tests. March 18 2004. After a few days I was told I have Aplastic Anaemia. What is that? Well my bone marrow has stopped working properly. I was given someone else's blood and platelets because I couldn't make enough of my own.

I have been in hospital twice for treatments to try to make me better. They didn't work and I had a bad reaction and was very ill. I was so weak that I needed a wheelchair to get around. My bone marrow wasn't working properly and the doctors couldn't make me better, even though they were very nice and worked very hard. The people at the hospital looked after me really well and were very kind to me - but they couldn't make me better.

If you are thinking that I look well today then I thank you, and my mum for helping me with my makeup. I may look fine on the outside but on the inside all is far from fine. You see my bone marrow doesn't work properly and I am not getting any better. I am still getting other people's blood and platelets and so many different medicines you wouldn't believe. I go to the hospital nearly every week.

I am also neutropenic. That means that my immune system doesn't work. I can easily get an infection and because my body cannot fight it I need to go to hospital. If I do not get to hospital quickly or if I get a really bad infection I may even die. I'm not allowed to go to school any more. I can't do the things that other 11 year olds do. I missed the end of primary school and I have never been to secondary school. All of this because my bone marrow doesn't work properly.

I need new bone marrow. But that is not something I can buy at the shop - unfortunately. I actually need a bone marrow transplant. But there is another problem. I have a very rare tissue type. You could say I'm almost unique. But I wish I wasn't. If anyone can help me to find a bone marrow that matches mine then that may help to make me better. Please help me if you can or know anyone that can. If the medical people cannot find a match to give me a bone marrow transplant then I have no hope. Please help me to have a future.

Thank you.

Yvette Gate

Link to Yvette's’s website:www.yvettegate.co.uk