Cancer patient's appeal for donors may help 360 people

Published on Monday 1 June 2009 09:57

ONE way or another, Verity Young has been losing blood virtually all of her young life.

The seven-year-old has endured numerous blood transfusions, constant blood tests and receives blood as part of the chemotherapy she is going through.

It is this experience that drove the Cargilfield School pupil to launch a blood donor campaign, which health chiefs said could save the lives of 360 people.

Verity – who lives in the New Town with parents Laura and John, and sisters Nina, nine, and two-year-old Isla – has battled auto-immune disease Lupus, which sees her immune system attack her own organs, since she was three. She received further bad news during the latest Christmas week, when doctors revealed she also has cancer.

But far from feeling sorry for herself, she has decided to learn more about her illness and the need for blood donors, despite her young age.

She said: "I have been given so much blood that I think I'm making the blood bank run out."

A recent recruitment day at her school – which she has hardly been able to attend in the last year because of illness – saw 120 new donors come through the doors. And with each pint of blood being used for three potential treatments, it could reach 360 people.

Her proud mother, Laura, 40, who has written a book about her plight called Sandy the Starfish, said: "From her point of view, she was always handing over blood and needed someone else's.

"She knows how important it is to her, and she's always noticing the blood vans when we are at hospital, and asks if it's for wee babies or people who've been in a car crash.

"We have always been very honest with her about what's happening and she knows what is going on – that the blood given is making her better.

"For now, it is just wait-and-see as she gets the chemotherapy."

Verity's campaign coincides with Blood Donor Week – which begins today – and the family are hopeful that not only will people who turn up be successful in giving blood first time, but they will also become regular donors.

Mrs Young added: "We have friends all over the world who often ask what they can do for us, and we tell them to give blood. It's something that can help not only Verity but others too, and they don't need to be on our doorstep to do it."

Vincent Mooney, Edinburgh donor services manager for the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service, said: "Many donors may be unaware that by giving blood they are helping children with cancer and leukaemia. We are very grateful for the support given by Verity and her family, and we are delighted to announce Cargilfield will now hold give-blood sessions twice per year."