A brave teenager from Mapperley who suffers from a rare blood disorder is hoping her story will inspire people to turn out for a bone marrow donor drive this Friday (July 5).
Isobel Chivers was just 13 when she was diagnosed with Griscelli – a life-threatening auto-immune illness of the blood.
The inherited genetic condition leaves those affected with unusually light (hypopigmented) skin and light silvery-grey hair.
Griscelli is normally considered life threatening but Isobel’s condition is classed as ‘uncharacteristic’ due to her symptoms being less severe.
In Isobel’s case, the inflammation caused by the illness is in her brain which affects her balance and also her vision – which is permanently doubled.
Drugs are now available to keep the teenager’s symptoms under control, but the only hope of a cure is chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant.
Isobel and her family are now launching a campaign to encourage more people across the borough to join the donor register and help find more matches for those needing a transplant.
A sign-up event has been organised and will take place this Friday at Mapperley Plains Primary School.
Isobel’s mum Sue Chivers is hoping her daughter’s plight will encourage more people to sign up for the donor scheme.
She said: “We want to encourage people to get on the bone marrow donor register and help Isobel and everyone in her position.
“Whether my daughter needs a transplant or not, we still want more people to put their names down.
“We have read about so many cases where children and adults alike are desperate for a donor, so we have decided to campaign to encourage more people to sign up.”
“Signing up for the register is easy. They require three swabs, a few minutes of your time and you could end up being a life changer.”
Potential donors can back the campaign and join the register at the event this Friday (July 5) at Mapperley Plains Primary School on Central Avenue, between 3.30pm – 7pm.
You can keep up to date with Isobel’s progress by liking her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/griscellis
