Kenilworth primary school makes urgent plea to find stem cell donor for teacher who has blood cancer
Saurabhi Bhave, of St. John’s Primary School and Nursery, has been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Her best chance at survival is a matching stem cell donor, and she needs to find one urgently.
A Kenilworth primary school has made an urgent plea to try to find a stem cell donor for one of its “incredible” teachers who has an aggressive form of blood cancer.
Saurabhi Bhave, of St. Johns Primary School and Nursery, has been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML).
The 46-year-old mother of one’s best chance at survival is a matching stem cell donor, and she needs to find one urgently.
She said: “It was a complete shock to my system.
“I thought I was just anaemic or something, and that they’d treat me and send me home and that I could start working again.”
“Having to tell my son and husband was awful.”
The school is holding a Swab for Saurabhi donor registration event in partnership with the blood cancer charity DKMS, where potential donors can have a quick and easy ten-minute cheek swab to check if they are a match.
The school has said: “We need your help.
“You could be the match.
“You could be her lifesaver.
“If you are aged 16-55 and in good general health, please come and register.
If you’re outside that age range or cannot attend, please support us by sharing this story widely and tagging friends who might be able to help.
“The St. John’s community stands with Mrs. Bhave.
“Please stand with us.
“Let’s find her hero.”
St John’s headteacher Adam Lee said the school has been “blown away” by the response it has had since it launched the appeal over the weekend.
Almost 70 volunteers from the school community have signed up to help run the event - with almost 50 of those signing up within the first hour of the request being put out.
The school’s posts have had more than 800,000 views over the weekend and over 2,500 shares.
Adam said: “Saurabhi is the most incredible person.
She has given so much to our school and community and the support for her has been extraordinary.
“Staff, parents, governors and members of the wider community have all stepped forward too, and we are incredibly grateful.”
The event takes place at the school in Mortimer Road on Saturday November 21 from 10am to 3pm.
For more information visit: https://www.dkms.org.uk/get-involved/virtual-drives/saurabhi