Stem cell donation reunites Jersey school friends

Two women who went to school together have been reunited through their experiences with stem cell donations and are urging people to join registers.

Beth Bowyer, 26, who now lives in Manchester, signed up to the stem cell register in 2019 by doing an "easy cheek swab", and last year received a call confirming she was a match for a critically ill patient overseas.

Bowyer said: "I thought it would be scary, but it was like giving blood for a few hours."

Isabel Marsh, 26, who lives in Jersey, was diagnosed with leukaemia, a cancer of the white blood cells, in March 2021 when she was 21. She had a stem cell transplant in September 2021 and said it was the "best news" when a match was found.

The NHS website said stem cell donations can be used to treat a wide range of blood cancers and disorders, but matching donors and patients was not "easy".

It said between 65% and 75% of those in need were unable to find a sibling match, therefore relied on the generosity of strangers.

During the treatment, she said: "Knowing someone was donating for me pushed me through."

Marsh said it was coming up to her five-year milestone and she was "healthy and singing again".

"I never imagined I'd get here," she said.

Marsh said when she found out school friend Bowyer had donated, it made her "emotional".

"It means so much knowing people from home are helping."

The pair are encouraging people to sign up to the stem cell register.

Talking about the process, Bowyer added: "You're guided every step of the way.

"A few hours of your time could give someone another chance at life."

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