Brighton mum of two Nikki Braterman has launched a global appeal in the hope of finding a “perfect match’” stem cell donor to enable her to have an essential bone marrow transplant.
Nikki, 45, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in December 2013 and after undergoing months of treatment, she thought she was on the road to recovery but has now had a relapse.
For a variety of medical reasons, Nikki’s best hope of survival is to find a donor that is a perfect match to her stem cell type. She is desperately seeking people who share her ethnic background (Anglo-Burmese and Irish) or people with south Asian heritage to volunteer as potential stem cell donors through their national registry.
Nikki said: “I’m a mum to two small children, aged seven and four and I want to see them grow up. If you are reading this story and think that you may be able to help then please, please get in touch, you might just be able to save my life.”
Geoff Braterman, Nikki’s husband said: “I don’t want to lose Nikki and I don’t want my kids to grow up without their mum. Please take a look at our website and share our story on social media. The right donor is out there somewhere, we just need to find them quickly.”
If you think you may be able to help Nikki then please check out your national registry. In the UK, this can be with the Anthony Nolan Trust for those aged 16-30, with Delete Blood Cancer or with the British Bone Marrow Registry. Outside the UK, please see the list of Bone Marrow Registers.
