First Published Date:23 May 2008

Words Taken from the Diss express By Catherine Morris

Marjorie Martin has leukaemia and is urging people to help save lives by joining the bone marrow register. Marjorie, who lives with her boyfriend Scott Smith's family in Dickleburgh, Norfolk, was rushed to hospital by paramedics after finding a series of lumps on her arms and legs.

The accountancy student, who came to the UK from Jamaica, first went to the doctors complaining of constant tiredness and aching joints. Blood tests showed the 26-year-old has sickle cell trait, but when more tests were run after the lumps appeared on her body, She was rushed to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, where she was told she had acute myeloid leukaemia (AML).

"It's not until these things hit close to home that people stop and think about them," she said.

"I just want people to sign up to the bone marrow register to help people like me. Even giving blood will help – I have had to have many blood transfusions as well."

Marjorie needs to find a bone marrow donor urgently, after doctors decided chemotherapy would not cure the disease alone. Her boyfriend's mother Wilma Smith is shocked more people are not signing up to the bone marrow register.

"Unless there are more people on the list, what chance do people like Marjorie have" she said.

"Until someone close to you needs a transplant, you don't know how to help. We just want people to get in touch with the ACLT to find out how to get on the register."

Doctors have explained that because Marjorie does not have any full siblings, she will need an African, Caribbean un-related bone marrow matched donor.

"Even if this appeal doesn't help Marjorie herself, it could help someone else out there," said Mrs Smith. "Obviously we want to help her, she is part of our family and we love her. She is the warmest and the most considerate person I have ever known and she has got so much more loving to give."

Marjorie has taken a positive approach to her diagnosis and even got excited about her first chemotherapy session.

"I have this belief that everything happens for a reason and I don't question it," she said.

Please visit our clinics pages to find out how you can help Marjorie and others by getting tested and registered as bone marrow and blood donors.

Please CLICK HERE to read about the 2 donation procedures

Thank You.