Hello my name is Cyril Onyejekwe, I am 51 years of age and was born in Nigeria. I am head of a large family with four children of my own plus two stepchildren from my wife Janet’s previous marriage and we have six grandchildren. I was diagnosed in December 2005 with a serious bone marrow disorder called Myelofibrosis; this is where the marrow is replaced by scar tissue reducing the normal blood cell production resulting in blood cells being produced in other sites such as the spleen or liver. It all started when I became aware of abdominal pain and decided to get it checked out by my doctor. After some tests it became apparent that I had an enlarged spleen, a classic symptom of Myelofibrosis where the spleen goes into overdrive trying to make up for deficiencies in the bone marrow, this causing all my symptoms of discomfort. Other symptoms are fatigue, weakness, night sweats and risk of infections.

My only cure is to have a bone marrow transplant to replace my failing bone marrow. Unfortunately, no one in my family is a bone marrow match and I am now desperately seeking an unrelated bone marrow donor. I admit I was knocked for six when I was first diagnosed, but it is important to stay positive, I do worry about the burden of responsibility which will fall on my wife if a suitable bone marrow match cannot be found.

In August 2007 I had to have my spleen removed as it had got so large it was causing complications pressing on my other organs and so the importance of finding an unrelated donor is all the more important. There is a huge shortage of African & Caribbean donors on the bone marrow registers and no unrelated match as yet, has been found. I am hoping that somebody from the African or Caribbean community will come forward to be a match for me and give me the gift of life, but they need to be on the bone marrow register by either going to one of the ACLT registration clinics or contacting the Anthony Nolan Trust or National Blood Service. More details can be found on other pages of this ACLT website.

Please CLICK HERE to read about the 2 donation procedures

Thank You

Cyril Onyejekwe

If you would like to join the bone marrow register to help Cyril and the many thousands of people who are searching for a bone marrow match world wide, then please click here to visit our Clinics page to check the dates of our next recruitment clinic. Thank You.