How an old magazine saved little Ellie's life

Paul McKinstray, 36, did not expect to find anything more interesting than TV listings until he hit upon an article by chance that would turn his family upside down. It told the story of a young girl suffering from leukaemia, and Mr McKinstray, from Dalkeith, quickly realised that the symptoms described were exactly the same as his three-year-old daughter Ellie, who had been feeling unwell.

He phoned home immediately and Ellie was rushed to hospital, where the family's worst fears were confirmed – but crucially lifesaving treatment could begin early.

Two years on, Ellie, now five, is approaching the end of her treatment, and her parents are hoping the all-clear will soon arrive.

Mr McKinstray, a printer, is using his daughter's plight to encourage more specialist blood donors, without whom patients like Ellie would not be able to survive.

He said before he spotted the article, both her family and GP thought it was nothing more serious than her being under the weather, or at worst anaemic. He said: "She'd been a bit unwell for about a week, getting quite upset, pale and then bruising very easily.

"We'd been up and down to the GP, and they thought she was maybe anaemic.

"Then I picked up a Take A Break magazine while I was at work and read about a girl from Fife who had leukaemia, and realised the symptoms were exactly the same.

"I got straight on the phone to my partner Leanne to take her to the GP. She was sent to the Sick Kids Hospital and the treatment began straight away."

Since then Ellie, a pupil at Danderhall Primary, has endured punishing treatment, which has involved side effects such as hair loss.

But her family – including mother Leanne, 33, and siblings Joshua, three, seven-year-old Amy and Connor, 15 – are hopeful that she can beat the illness.

Leukaemia soon becomes life threatening if not treated at an early stage, making her father's intervention even more crucial. Mr McKinstray added: "I dread to think what would have happened had I not picked up that magazine.

"I don't know if it was fate, but I think it saved her life."

Mr McKinstray now regularly attends to donate blood platelets – a much-needed service that helps a range of patients.

Blood donation bosses are concerned of a drop in donations due to the onset of summer, meaning people are less committed to attending, while they added the World Cup makes people even less available.

Vincent Mooney, Edinburgh donor services manager for the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service, said: "Today launches a full week of intense activity to highlight the importance of giving blood at least once a year. This is an important time for us and we ask that you join a life-saving team by giving blood."