Jarrow FC star donates stem cells and bone marrow to aid French kid's battle with leukaemia
Jarrow FC footballer Max Nelson has donated stem cells and bone marrow - and is helping a French kid’s battle with leukaemia.
A South Tyneside semi-professional footballer has appealed for more people to donate stem cells and bone marrow after he aided a youngster in France in his ongoing battle with leukaemia.
Max Nelson, a defender with local Northern League club Jarrow FC, has donated blood for a number of years but met a request to go a step further by donating bone marrow and stem cells.
Despite overwhelming odds against finding a match, Nelson travelled to Sheffield on two occasions to have stem cells taken and has now found he has been able to give hope to a young child on the other side of the Channel.
‘Just a normal lad from Shields’
For someone who describes himself as ‘just a normal lad from South Shields’, having the opportunity to aid a youngster in their ongoing battle with leukaemia has delivered a very powerful experience.
He told The Gazette: “At the time you think it’s something amazing to have an opportunity to do something for someone you will never meet and make that difference to their lives.
“I knew if I was on the receiving end, or it was a member of my family, and someone from another country was able to do this for me or them, I’d feel amazing.
“But I just feel blessed that I have had this opportunity to help someone. It took nothing for me to donate these stem cells and it didn’t really affect me other than having a couple of days where I had to rest - but then I was back playing football again.
“It’s really powerful to have been able to deliver that hope to someone and to their family in such a difficult time.”
Update expected in 2027
For now, Nelson will wait for news on how his successful his stem cell donation has been and an update on progress with the young patient is not expected to arrive until early next year.
However, a positive update could also lead to an emotional meeting after he revealed he had given permission for the young boy and his family to make contact over the coming months.
“I had forms to go through and contracts to sign and I had to give permission for the family to contact me if it was successful,” he explained.
“They explained people have met up in the past and thanked people that have donated in person. I won’t know if the cells have helped the young boy until next year but I have everything crossed that it will.
“I’m just a normal lad from South Shields - but I’ve signed up and I’ve been given this chance to do something very special for someone I don’t even know.”
Nelson has now urged potential donors to sign up to give their stem cells and bone marrow and gave an insight into the process he has gone through over the last 12 months.
He said: “It’s a simple process where you are hooked up to a machine with a needle in one arm and it filters the stems cells from your blood and then the blood goes back into your body.
“A week before I gave the donation I was given something boost the stem cells in my body so had to self-inject that for four days and that would increase the chances of it working because it’s not always guaranteed.
“But they are always looking for further donations of stem cells and bone marrow and it is always a positive thing to give someone a chance - so I would say to people to get signed up to donate because it can make a massive difference.”