Tim Lomas and Jo Michell have renewed calls for non-European males to register as bone marrow donors. Photo / Supplied
Tim Lomas and Jo Michell have renewed calls for non-European males to register as bone marrow donors. Photo / Supplied
A first time mum desperately seeking a bone marrow donor to fight a leukaemia relapse has been dealt another blow.
After sharing her story in the Weekend Herald, Auckland woman Jo Mitchell has learned there is no current match for her on the global bone marrow register of 33 millionpeople.
Hopes were high earlier this week when Mitchell learned there was a possible match for her overseas.
However, further tests revealed the potential donor's tissue type was different.
Finding there was just one potential match among millions was tough to hear, Mitchell said.
"But then discovering that they're not a match makes you really wonder about your chances. And that can be too overwhelming to think about.
"I'm trying to stay as strong and positive as possible, I'm hopeful that with new donors joining the global registry everyday someone out there might be a match."
Despite the setback Mitchell said she was given new hope by the dozens of New Zealanders who had been in touch this week to see if they were a match.
"I've been blown away by the support and kindness of friends, family and complete strangers, it's more than I could've imagined.
"I'm so glad that the word is spreading and that more people are giving blood and joining the bone marrow donor registry as it could help someone else in my situation too."
Mitchell and husband Tim Lomas went public last week in search of a bone marrow donor after it was discovered Mitchell's leukaemia had returned just weeks after the birth of their first child - a baby boy named Quinn.
Tim Lomas and Jo Michell have renewed calls for non-European males to register as bone marrow donors. Photo / Supplied
The new parents were devastated at the relapse and decided to go public to increase Mitchell's chance at survival.
Mitchell was first diagnosed with blood cancer Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia in 2013. After three years of gruelling chemotherapy she was cleared of the disease.
In remission Mitchell made the most of life, marrying Lomas, celebrating with an adventure-filled honeymoon and in June this year welcoming baby boy Quinn to the family.
Jo Mitchell and Tim Lomas with baby bump Quinn on their wedding day. Photo / Supplied
But just after Quinn was born it was discovered Mitchell's leukaemia had returned.
Mitchell said finding a donor was like "finding a needle in a haystack" complicated because she is Chinese and Caucasian.
More than 20 million of the people on the current global bone marrow register are European - and do not match Mitchell's tissue type.
Experts said the most likely match for Mitchell would also be Chinese and Caucasian - and will be male. That's because women produce antibodies in pregnancy that complicate the process.
