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A local mum has praised blood donors who helped her four-year-old daughter during treatment for a rare form of leukaemia, as the NHS appeals for more donors this Easter.
Why it matters: England currently remains on Amber alert for low blood stocks, with hospitals across the country needing over 5,000 blood donations every day to treat patients with injuries, cancer, sickle cell and during childbirth.
The details: Four-year-old Etta Murton was diagnosed with T cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia in September 2022, aged just 20 months, and needed between 10-15 units of blood and platelets during her chemotherapy treatment.
Her mother Becky, 33, from Needham Market, described the blood Etta received as an "incredible gift" and was "thankful" that it was available when her daughter needed it.
What they're saying: "Last Easter, Etta was receiving intensive chemotherapy, only coming home from hospital very briefly before needing to return for a blood transfusion. Thankfully, this year, Etta has finished her treatment and will hopefully be able to spend Easter at home with her family and making happy memories together," Becky said.
The former NHS phlebotomist and O positive donor herself added: "To anyone thinking of donating blood, it's super simple and the process to sign up and book an appointment is easy, with many different times for appointments.
"With Etta's condition, people always ask: 'what can I do to help?', and I always say: 'donate blood!' It's the most incredible gift and people who donate blood are nothing but lifesavers."
For context: This week, Etta and her mother visited a blood donation session in Ipswich to thank donors. Etta brought a decorated basket of mini Easter eggs to share with staff and donors as an alternative to their usual post-donation biscuit.
Karl, one of the donors attending the session, said: "seeing Etta today was like a wonderful rainbow and ray of light - she brightened up my day even more than the sunshine outside!"
The bigger picture: Blood stocks are often at risk of shortfall around public holidays, prompting NHS Blood and Transplant to call on people to book donation appointments over the Easter period.
Gerry Gogarty, Director of Blood Supply at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: "Like Etta and her family, we would like to thank all our blood donors who have come forward to donate and boost blood stocks already this year. We really appreciate their dedication to blood donation. However, as the need for blood never stops, I urge both new and returning donors to book their next appointment today."
What to look out for: People with O negative and B negative blood types are particularly needed over the coming weeks. There also remains an ongoing need for more donors of Black heritage to help patients with sickle cell who need ethnically matched blood.
By the numbers: Blood has a shelf life of 35 days and platelets only seven days, making it vital that stocks are constantly replenished. Donating a unit of blood takes just an hour and each donation can save up to three lives.
The bottom line: Thousands of appointments are available to fill over the coming weeks. To book an appointment visit www.blood.co.uk or call 0300 123 23 23.
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