Posted online: Apr 11th, 2011

THE Blood Transfusion Service has issued an urgent appeal to the people of Derry to help find a suitable match for a local man in need of a life saving bone marrow transplant.

The call comes as Bill Quigley (39), continues his search for a donor after he was diagnosed with leukemia last September.

The father of two had been given fresh hope after his sister Allison had been found to be suitable match, with the vital transplant procedure due to take place today.

However, just ten days ago the family was hit with another bombshell after doctors discovered Allison had a malignant melanoma.

Speaking to the Derry News at the weekend, Bill called on as many people to attend today and tomorrow’s transfusion service in the Guildhall in the hope that a new donor can be found.

“This could be my last chance,” he said.

“The transfusion service has told me that there is a higher likelihood of finding a suitable match in Derry than anywhere else, so it would great if people could come out.

“The past few months have just been surreal, having to deal with the chemotherapy and then Allison’s news. That was just a slap in the teeth for everybody. Sometimes it feels like this is all happening to someone else.

 “But my family and friends have been great, they’ve really rallied around and I can’t say enough for the nurses and staff at Ward 10 at the City Hospital, they’ve just been brilliant.”

Paul McElkerney, Donor Recruitment and Organisation Manager at Northern Ireland
Blood Tranfusion Service said that one person could make all the difference.

“I think Bill’s situation has really brought it home to people in the city the need for bone marrow donors,” he said.

“So we’d ask people in Derry that if they’re thinking about coming down to give blood today and tomorrow that they also consider becoming bone marrow donors, particularly of they given blood before.

“It could make all the difference to Bill and his family.”

Allison also moved to dispel the notions that a bone marrow transplant was a painful process.

“It’s not an invasive process, and people seem to have this notion that it’s painful, but it’s not,” she said.

“The biopsy is painful, yes, but when it comes to the bone marrow transfusion it’s just like giving blood, only longer.”

The Blood Transfusion Service will be the Guildhall today (Monday) and tomorrow, Tuesday from 1.30pm – 4pm, and 5.15pm to 8pm.